Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 95. Grand General of Suppressing Rebels

95. Grand General of Suppressing Rebels

Under the large tree in the courtyard, Mo Xiuyao leaned leisurely against the trunk, his gaze warmly settling on the graceful woman in the garden, her hand moving with swift lethality. A gleaming dagger appeared and disappeared in Ye Li’s hand as she deftly darted between several human-shaped wooden dummies arranged in various poses. In just moments, every dummy bore visible gashes, either on its neck or at the deadly spot over its heart. Ye Li’s demonstration was not one of spectacle but was filled with an icy intent to kill. To those watching in the courtyard, however, it was more captivating than any dance in this world. The hidden guards, observing from the shadows, couldn’t help but surreptitiously touch their own throats, wondering if they could evade the Princess Consort’s dagger. Feng Zhiyao, who also happened to be idling by, watched a serene and even gentle Mo Xiuyao, and lamented in his heart: Out of all the fair maidens available, the Prince chose this ruthless Princess Consort; how poor His Majesty’s judgment must be! Prince Li was right to call off his engagement; otherwise, he would have been killed by the Princess Consort sooner or later.

Ye Li put away her dagger, her brows converging in what appeared to be dissatisfaction. She turned to walk towards where Mo Xiuyao was seated under the tree.

"Though Ah-Li’s inner strength might be lacking, her close-quarter combat skills are excellent," Mo Xiuyao commended with a nod and a smile. However, her deficiencies in inner strength were not something that could be remedied in the short term. Given Ah-Li’s status, there weren’t many experts who would necessitate her intervention. At the very least, Ye Li’s current skill far exceeded Mo Xiuyao’s expectations. Ye Li gave a slight nod, accepting the praise. Furrowing her brows, she commented, "My inner strength is indeed lacking, and it’s a weakness. I’ll find another way to work on it. As for dealing with top experts... I’ll have to think about that."

Feng Zhiyao, a bit frightened, looked at her and blurted out, "Princess Consort, you aren’t telling me that with your current skills you can tackle top experts with superior inner strength, are you?"

Ye Li propped up her chin and said, "That depends on how advanced they are. If their inner strength is so strong that they can blow away a house a hundred feet away with just a palm strike, then it might be a bit difficult for me."

Feng Zhiyao rolled his eyes heavenward and exclaimed, "Who has ever seen such an outrageous expert? It’s simply impossible for anyone to be that powerful! What does she think these abilities are? Being able to shatter a tree trunk as thick as a bowl with a single palm strike already requires exceptionally profound inner strength, let alone blowing away a house a hundred feet away!" Ye Li nodded in serious agreement, "I also think such a capability shouldn’t exist." Feng Zhiyao curiously asked, "Then how does the Princess Consort plan to deal with top experts?"

Ye Li blinked, calmly saying, "With my own skills... it might be a bit difficult to handle an expert like the Prince. However, escaping unscathed should be feasible." As she spoke, she couldn’t resist observing Mo Xiuyao. For someone who has been disabled for almost ten years, even if Mo Xiuyao’s martial arts haven’t declined, they should have plateaued when he was about seventeen or eighteen. But in these past few days, I’ve quickly realized that his martial arts are still as unfathomable as ever. At least, I stand no chance against him. This made Ye Li, who was always confident in her abilities, feel a bit disappointed. Feng Zhiyao no longer knew what expression to wear. What’s with that look of disappointment and regret? Does she think many people can escape unscathed from the Prince?

"If that’s the case, then the Princess Consort’s skills are indeed sufficient. After all... in the world today, there are no more than three people whose martial arts can be compared with the Prince," said Feng Zhiyao.

"Who are the three?" asked Ye Li, intrigued. Feng Zhiyao scratched his nose. "Chief Pavilion Master Ling Tiehan of the King of Hell Pavilion, the Southern Garrison Prince from Xiling, and Mu Qingcang, the number one expert of Great Chu. However, the Southern Garrison Prince lost an arm on the battlefield back then, so his skills might have declined somewhat. But none of these individuals are likely to make a move against the Princess Consort, so there’s no need to worry." Ye Li rolled her eyes at him and said, "I’m not paranoid. Improving my abilities has nothing to do with whether anyone intends to attack me." Feng Zhiyao couldn’t help but wipe his sweat. She still wants to improve her skills?

"Just let someone else handle whatever you need. If you need people, you can directly select from the hidden guards or the Black Cloud Cavalry," Mo Xiuyao said softly. Given that the future is destined to be tumultuous, I don’t object to Ah-Li strengthening herself by any means necessary. Even if it’s just for self-preservation, more strength means more security. Feng Zhiyao looked at Mo Xiuyao in surprise, raising his eyebrows slightly. It seems the Prince truly regards this Princess Consort as very important. At least, the authority granted to her could be said to be the greatest among all past Princess Consorts of Ding Kingdom, except for the very first one. No, perhaps it’s not inferior to the first Princess Consort Ding, as the Prince has practically acquiesced to the Princess Consort having full authority over the Black Cloud Cavalry.

"A message for the Prince and the Princess Consort. General Murong seeks an audience. Also... the reinforcements from the court have arrived," a guard stationed at the courtyard gate reported.

Feng Zhiyao raised his eyebrows. "They arrived sooner than expected. Which general is leading them?"

The guard reported, "It’s General Liu Jingyun, who was recently appointed by His Majesty as the Grand General of Suppressing Rebels."

Mo Xiuyao said lightly, "Let them in." The guard hesitated before adding, "General Liu hasn’t entered the city yet."

"Must I personally go out of the city to welcome him?" Mo Xiuyao’s tone was mild, yet it carried an overwhelming, invisible pressure. The guard immediately bowed decisively and said, "This subordinate understands!" He quickly left to relay the message. Expecting the Prince to go out of the city to welcome him? What kind of joke is that?

"Who is this Liu Jingyun?" Feng Zhiyao racked his brain. Could it be that the intelligence network I’ve led these past few years has really been so lacking that I don’t even know about such a trusted general of the Emperor? Mo Xiuyao nonchalantly said, "He is the posthumous son of the late Fourth Young Master of Prime Minister Liu, born to a concubine, and ranks eleventh in the Liu Family. He should be twenty-seven this year."

Feng Zhiyao frowned and said, "Is he the nephew of Noble Consort Liu? Has the Emperor gone mad because of Mo Jingli? How could he send someone who has never been on a battlefield to pacify a rebellion? Even asking Old State Duke Hua to come out of retirement would be better than deploying someone who knows nothing." Mo Xiuyao shook his head, "His Majesty wouldn’t use people from the Hua Family."

Feng Zhiyao scoffed coldly. "So he uses people from the Liu family?" Of course, I know the Emperor is wary of the Hua Family. Otherwise, why would the Empress, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Hua Family, have only one princess? The Hua Family has already reached its zenith. In the past, Old State Duke Hua and Mo Liufang were extremely close; how could the Emperor not be on guard?

"In His Majesty’s eyes, the Liu Family is apparently more loyal than the Hua Family and also easier to control," Mo Xiuyao pointed out calmly.

Feng Zhiyao nodded and sneered, "Isn’t that true? If the Liu Family weren’t loyal to His Majesty, how could they have continued to enjoy imperial favor all these years? Selling daughters for glory and whatnot... in this regard, the Hua Family truly can’t compare to the Liu Family."

"His Majesty couldn’t possibly entrust over a hundred thousand heavy troops to someone who knows nothing. Liu Jingyun is merely a pawn on the surface. Now that Mo Jingli has rebelled, His Majesty will no longer trust the Ye Family; supporting the Liu Family has become inevitable. However... His Majesty will probably also use this short period to cultivate some new forces to counterbalance the Liu Family," Mo Xiuyao said nonchalantly, as if he was no longer concerned about the war situation in Yonglin. "Once the reinforcements arrive, we’ll leave Yonglin. If His Majesty enjoys dragging things out, let him. This war won’t be over in less than three to five months."

"General Murong Shen pays his respects to the Prince and Princess Consort." Murong Shen entered quickly and saluted.

Mo Xiuyao nodded and said, "Please sit down, General. Is there something urgent at this hour?"

Murong Shen looked somewhat troubled and, looking at Mo Xiuyao, said, "I heard that the Prince will leave Yonglin today. May I know... what are the Prince’s views on the current war in Yongzhou?" Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows and laughed. "What do you mean, General? Once the reinforcements from the court arrive, Broken Snow Pass will naturally be safe." Murong Shen sighed helplessly and said solemnly to Mo Xiuyao, "I have always been straightforward; I hope the Prince won’t take offense. If the Prince would assist, I believe we could quell Prince Li’s rebellion within a month. But why does the Prince..." Mo Xiuyao interrupted him with a laugh, "General, we both understand the saying, ’When a general is in the field, he may disobey his sovereign’s orders.’ However, few sovereigns in history have truly accepted this. You must also be aware of how those renowned generals who disobeyed their sovereign’s orders ended up."

"In these past few days, Prince Li’s army has remained stationary. I worry that Prince Li may lead his army eastward. By then, the common people in the southeast will probably be caught in the crossfire again," Murong Shen said gravely. As a military officer, he only had a vague understanding of politics, so he couldn’t figure out why they insisted on dragging things out and causing the common people to suffer, instead of finding a better way to solve the problem. Mo Xiuyao shook his head and sighed, "It’s too late... Mo Jingli has already divided his troops into two routes and is heading east. In fact, the reason Mo Jingli has kept his troops stationary these past few days is likely because Mo Jingli himself is probably no longer with the army." Murong Shen was taken aback and asked, "Since that is the case, why didn’t the Prince stop him?"

"General..." Mo Xiuyao’s smile was somewhat bitter. As soon as Murong Shen’s words were out, he instantly regretted them. In the Emperor’s eyes, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion is far more terrifying than Prince Li’s rebel army. How could the Emperor allow Prince Ding to truly intervene in Prince Li’s affairs? If the Mo Family Army made a move, the Emperor would immediately charge Prince Ding with the crime of defying a sacred edict. At that time... the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Mo Family Army... Murong Shen couldn’t help but shiver and dared not think further. Mo Xiuyao continued, "The conflict in the southeast is inevitable. General, you only need to hold Broken Snow Pass and prevent the Nanzhao army from entering the pass to join forces with Prince Li. As for Prince Li’s main army in Yongzhou, they will certainly withdraw from Yongzhou within a month."

Is Great Chu about to be divided into north and south? Murong Shen silently asked himself. Is dealing with Prince Ding, who has rendered meritorious service in protecting the country, truly more important than quelling the rebellion of Prince Li? The straightforward General Murong naturally didn’t understand that in the eyes of the Emperor, Mo Jingqi, Mo Xiuyao and Mo Jingli had never been opponents on the same level. As long as he could deal with Mo Xiuyao, he wouldn’t worry even if there were another Mo Jingli. If Jiangnan were occupied by Mo Jingli, he could eventually reclaim it. However, if Mo Xiuyao were to entrench himself in Jiangnan, not only would Mo Jingqi have to reclaim it, but he would also have to guard against Mo Xiuyao reaching for Jiangbei or even attempting to seize the entire land of Great Chu. Therefore, in reality, after his initial rage subsided, Mo Jingqi was almost pleased by Mo Jingli’s sudden rebellion. Only in this way would he have a perfect reason to execute this biological brother of his.

"The Grand General of Suppressing Rebels has arrived!" A loud voice rang out from outside the courtyard, causing everyone inside, including Murong Shen, to change their expressions. In the presence of Prince Ding, whether it was a newly appointed Grand General who had never been to a battlefield, or the celebrated Old State Duke Hua, none would display such discourtesy. This new Grand General—was he truly brainless, or did he simply hold Prince Ding in no regard?

A surge of noisy footsteps approached from afar; clearly, it was more than just one or two people. Ye Li listened intently for a moment; there were at least twenty or thirty individuals. A slight smile touched her lips. Has this Grand General of Suppressing Rebels come specifically to show off his might? Catching Ye Li’s amused gaze, Feng Zhiyao scoffed. Showing off his might in front of the Prince? Has his brain been squeezed by a door? The last one who dared to be so audacious in front of the Prince, that Prince of Beirong, is said to still not have regained his senses.

Just as the group reached the entrance of the courtyard, they were evidently stopped. A somewhat sharp voice could be heard, "How dare you! The Grand General of Suppressing Rebels is here, yet you refuse to let us pass?"

The guards at the entrance didn’t seem intimidated and answered in a calm tone, "Please remove your weapons, General. Personal guards are not allowed inside."

"As the commander-in-chief, how could I possibly lay down my weapons? What is His Highness Prince Ding implying?" another, younger voice sounded, laced with arrogance and discontent. The guard spoke in a firm tone, "Carrying weapons inside without the Prince’s permission is treated as an assassination attempt. As the commander-in-chief, the Grand General of Suppressing Rebels should be well aware of this. Please do not make things difficult for us subordinates."

Irritated by the commotion outside, Mo Xiuyao rubbed the space between his eyebrows and said, "Let the two of them in."

A moment of silence fell outside the courtyard before two men walked in. The one leading was clad in white, wearing a white battle robe with a silver-sheathed sword at his waist. He looked... dazzlingly silver. Ye Li blinked, reminded that Mo Xiuyao had also worn a similar white attire a few days ago. Looking at the approaching man, she couldn’t help but chuckle silently. Mo Xiuyao, in white robes on a white horse with a silver spear, truly looked exceptionally dashing and imposing. But this man in front of me... Ye Li recalled a saying: Those who fancy wearing all white are often latently narcissistic and self-absorbed. As she was silently pondering, a cool hand grasped hers. Ye Li looked up at him; Mo Xiuyao was looking at her with a hint of question in his smiling eyes. Ye Li shook her head to indicate nothing was amiss and turned her gaze to the person behind the first man, whom she had initially overlooked. The second person had no particularly memorable features. If one had to point something out, it would be his limp. It reminded Ye Li of a certain former commander of Broken Snow Pass from last year, whom Mo Xiuyao had dismissed as an incompetent fool.

The two men came and stood before everyone, showing no intention of offering salutations. Then again, no one on this side was planning to salute them either. Among those present, perhaps only Feng Zhiyao’s official rank was lower than theirs, but since he wasn’t a general formally appointed by the imperial court, he naturally had no intention of saluting. The others present were all of higher status. A silence fell over the courtyard until Guan Ting, standing behind Liu Jingyun, apparently realized that this stalemate was unproductive. He stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, General Liu and I are here under the Emperor’s orders to take over Yonglin City."

Mo Xiuyao didn’t make things difficult, nodded slightly, and turned to Feng Zhiyao. "Third Feng, issue an order for the entire Black Cloud Cavalry to withdraw from Yonglin."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Wait!" Guan Ting immediately intervened, looking defiantly at Mo Xiuyao. "Your Highness may not have heard clearly. General Liu and I are under the Emperor’s command to take over Yonglin, and that includes the soldiers garrisoning Yonglin City." With that statement, he meant not only Yonglin City but also to take command of the twenty thousand Black Cloud Cavalry stationed there. Everyone present couldn’t help but gasp internally, looking at Guan Ting as if he were already a dead man. Mo Xiuyao didn’t appear angered; instead, he smiled faintly. "General Guan, did the Emperor... send you here to provoke this Prince?"

Guan Ting’s breath hitched, his expression stiffening. "What does Your Highness mean? The Emperor ordered Your Highness to lead troops to reinforce Yonglin, not to make Your Highness the commander-in-chief for quelling the rebellion. Now that the commander-in-chief has arrived, shouldn’t Your Highness hand over the military authority of Yonglin?" His Majesty had indeed instructed not to provoke Mo Xiuyao easily, but... the humiliation Mo Xiuyao inflicted on me in the past... A trace of hatred flashed in Guan Ting’s eyes. He lifted his head, trying to appear more assertive. Murong Shen frowned. "General Guan, the Prince merely ordered the withdrawal of the Black Cloud Cavalry. You should know that the Black Cloud Cavalry..." Before he could finish, Guan Ting interrupted loudly, "Is the Black Cloud Cavalry not part of Great Chu’s army? Or does the Prince of Ding Kingdom intend to consolidate power with his own troops?!" Towards the end, the look Guan Ting gave Mo Xiuyao could almost be described as venomous.

Mo Xiuyao grasped the armrest and slowly rose to his feet. Guan Ting, startled, involuntarily took a step back. Mo Xiuyao took a couple of steps forward, his expression calm as he looked at him and asked softly, "General Guan, do you believe that after several years of recuperating in the mansion, this Prince’s temper has improved from before?" Guan Ting’s face paled, and he stared in fear at the seemingly frail man in white before him. Was Mo Xiuyao good-tempered? If you asked those who knew him now, at least nine and a half out of ten would say his temper was excellent. But those who had known Mo Xiuyao for a long time knew that this man... had never been good-tempered. He was the type to beat Mo Jingli for secretly causing trouble, or to team up with Feng Zhiyao to thrash Mo Jingli and hang him from a tree. He could also, without a word, whip Guan Ting in front of thousands of soldiers for incompetent command. Such a disposition could hardly be called ’good-tempered.’

"Wha...What are you trying to do?" Guan Ting asked, terrified.

"If what you just said was not His Majesty’s intention... General Guan, do you know what crime you would be guilty of?" Mo Xiuyao asked calmly.

Guan Ting stared at Mo Xiuyao, terrified and perturbed, yet he dared not utter that it was the Emperor’s intention. Even if Mo Jingqi had gone mad, he would never ask Mo Xiuyao for command of the Black Cloud Cavalry. Not to mention whether Mo Xiuyao would give it, even if he did, Mo Jingqi wouldn’t be able to control or use them; it would only bring him more trouble. Guan Ting glanced pleadingly at Liu Jingyun, who had been standing ignored to the side. Although Liu Jingyun was displeased by Prince Ding’s disregard, only after actually meeting Prince Ding did he realize that he simply lacked the imposing presence to contend with him. His earlier arrogance had faded, leaving only resentment and fear.

"Pri... Prince..." Under Mo Xiuyao’s gaze, Guan Ting’s expression grew increasingly fearful, and he began to tremble. Finally, as if all strength had been drained from his body, he sank powerlessly to his knees. Mo Xiuyao walked calmly past him. "Third Feng, prepare for departure."

"Yes, my Prince."

Ye Li nodded and smiled at Murong Shen as she followed. Murong Shen sighed helplessly, glanced at the two new generals, then also turned and left. Fortunately, this Grand General of Suppressing Rebels and I do not have a subordinate relationship. Since that’s the case, he can suppress his rebels, and I’ll guard my pass. Each to his own.

Left behind, Liu Jingyun stared blankly as the others disappeared from sight. Does anyone even remember that I am the new Grand General?

The Black Cloud Cavalry indeed moved with utmost discipline. In less than fifteen minutes after Mo Xiuyao gave the order, all twenty thousand-plus members of the Black Cloud Cavalry had completely withdrawn from Yonglin City. The sudden movement of the Black Cloud Cavalry stirred unease among the opposing rebel army. Only after confirming that the cavalry had no intention of attacking them did the rebels breathe a sigh of relief, yet they dared not lower their guard in the slightest. Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao also returned to their lodgings to pack, preparing to leave the city and rendezvous with the Black Cloud Cavalry.

"Princess Consort, Colonel Yun requests an audience," Darky Two reported from outside.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, curious about Yun Ting’s intentions. "Let him in."

A moment later, Yun Ting entered with an anxious look on his face. Ye Li was rather fond of this young officer and greeted him with a light smile, "Colonel Yun, is there something you need?" Yun Ting glanced at Ye Li’s travel attire and asked, "Are you and the Prince about to leave?" Ye Li responded affirmatively, "The Prince is currently making arrangements for the handover with General Liu. We will depart shortly. Are you and Colonel Xia returning to Broken Snow Pass soon?"

"I..." Yun Ting seemed slightly uncomfortable. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally knelt down on one knee and said, "I wish to join the Black Cloud Cavalry. I beg your acceptance, Princess Consort."

Ye Li looked at Yun Ting’s resolute face in surprise, and then furrowed her eyebrows. "Colonel Yun, if you wish to join the Black Cloud Cavalry, you should ask the Prince. Why would you come to ask me?"

Yun Ting was taken aback, suddenly at a loss. He had only thought of asking the Princess Consort since she was there, forgetting that Prince Ding was now present too, and such a matter would most likely require the Prince’s approval. Seeing Yun Ting’s stunned expression, Ye Li smiled faintly. "Why would you want to join the Black Cloud Cavalry? They are all selected from the elites of the Mo Family Army; it’s not something one can join just by asking." Yun Ting gritted his teeth and said resolutely, "The Black Cloud Cavalry is the finest army in Great Chu. I want to join them to follow the Prince and Princess Consort, to charge onto the battlefield and achieve great merits."

Looking at Yun Ting’s earnest expression, Ye Li couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

"Colonel Yun, you are already an outstanding colonel under General Murong and made a great contribution defending Yonglin this time. I believe in a few years, you will surely become one of Great Chu’s young generals. But, if you join the Black Cloud Cavalry..." Ye Li said, shaking her head with a smile. Yun Ting hastily replied, "I am willing to be an ordinary soldier in the Black Cloud Cavalry." Ye Li looked at him. "Colonel Yun, do you know why the Black Cloud Cavalry only numbers in the tens of thousands?" Yun Ting replied as if it were obvious, "The Black Cloud Cavalry is the elite of the elite. Since they are elite, naturally, their numbers are few." Ye Li nodded. "That’s right, the Black Cloud Cavalry is indeed the elite of the elite. But... precisely because they are elite, and few in number, they are never the ones to play the most crucial, decisive roles in a true war."

"Huh?" Yun Ting was puzzled. The stories he had heard since childhood were all about how the Black Cloud Cavalry achieved miraculous merits and turned the tide in desperate situations. So why was the Princess Consort saying something different?

Ye Li, slightly smiling, asked, "What is war for?"

"Taking cities and seizing lands."

"Correct. The Black Cloud Cavalry can launch long-distance raids, conduct ambushes, and carry out decapitation strikes—many tasks ordinary soldiers cannot accomplish. However... they cannot independently capture a city, nor can they defend one alone. Therefore, they actually function in a supporting role to the main army," Ye Li said softly.

"Support?"

"A very important supporting role. In critical moments, they are the best trump card, appearing where least expected. But usually, they must lie low, remaining obscure and unknown. Colonel Yun, have you ever heard of any famous generals emerging from the Black Cloud Cavalry?"

Yun Ting shook his head. Everyone knew the Black Cloud Cavalry was formidable, but its commanders were always unknown. Although the Black Cloud Cavalry was not numerous, and even though it was personally commanded by Prince Ding, it would be impossible for him to arrange every single matter personally. However, since the day the Black Cloud Cavalry was established, it seemed there was only that one name—’Black Cloud Cavalry’—representing all its members. In the history of Great Chu, the true name of any Black Cloud Cavalry general has never been recorded.

Ye Li sighed softly. "Colonel Yun, I see you have a frank and forthright temperament and great ambitions. With your achievements in your early twenties, your future should be limitless. If you truly become an ordinary member of the Black Cloud Cavalry, I’m afraid it would hinder your aspirations. The Black Cloud Cavalry is the true sharp sword of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. Their will is wherever Prince Ding points. Actually, it’s somewhat similar to the special forces from my past life. With Yun Ting’s personality, if he truly joined and didn’t undergo considerable tempering, he would surely regret it in the future." Yun Ting’s face flushed, and he said anxiously, "Princess Consort, I..." Ye Li raised her hand to stop him, smiling softly. "You don’t need to be anxious. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with you; I just hope you think clearly. Is your ambition to be a general who gallops across battlefields, laughing proudly, or to be a hidden arrow, concealed in darkness, waiting for the opportune moment to strike?"

Yun Ting fell silent. He had indeed never considered what the Princess Consort had just mentioned. No wonder when I said I was going to ask the Princess Consort, Xia Shu didn’t offer his usual support or encouragement. Perhaps he had already seen that I’m not suited for the Black Cloud Cavalry. However... Yun Ting looked with some confusion at the kind and elegant woman before him. He admired strength, and undoubtedly, Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding were both strong. He knew his desire to follow them was genuine.

"What’s going on here, Ah-Li?" Mo Xiuyao strolled in, glanced at Yun Ting’s conflicted expression, and asked, "What happened?"

Ye Li gave a faint smile and explained what had just happened. Mo Xiuyao turned to look at Yun Ting again, making him feel somewhat uncomfortable, but he still tried to maintain his composure.

"What did General Murong say?" asked Mo Xiuyao. He knew he couldn’t reassign someone from General Murong’s command without notifying him first.

Yun Ting’s heart jumped, and he quickly said, "General Murong said as long as the Prince and Princess Consort agree, it will be fine."

Mo Xiuyao pondered for a moment before saying, "You are not suited to join the Black Cloud Cavalry." A wave of disappointment washed over Yun Ting, mixed with a flurry of other emotions. Then, he heard Mo Xiuyao continue, "However, if you are willing, you can follow Ah-Li for now."

Both Yun Ting and Ye Li looked at Mo Xiuyao. Ye Li raised an eyebrow in confusion. Follow me? To do what? If he’s to be a guard, this colonel might not even be my match.

Mo Xiuyao said, "You don’t have many capable people around you. Those four are still far from being able to command troops effectively. I’ll have Qin Feng accompany you, along with Yun Ting. Although Yun Ting might still be somewhat impetuous, General Murong also considers him a talent worth cultivating. With a little training, if he proves capable, he can then be transferred to the Mo Family Army."

Ye Li didn’t mind, but Yun Ting couldn’t hide his shock. Listening to Prince Ding, it seems he’s grooming capable aides for the Princess Consort! Will Princess Consort Ding not only be able to mobilize the Black Cloud Cavalry in the future but also command the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Mo Family Army? "Thank you, Your Highness! This subordinate is willing to follow the Princess Consort!" Yun Ting immediately responded.

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "In that case, go and bid farewell to General Murong. We will set off with the army in an hour."

"Yes!"