Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 355 - 354. The Stance of the Queen of Nanzhao

354. The Stance of the Queen of Nanzhao

After the announcement of the marriage between Prince Li’s Mansion and Cangmang Mountain, since most of the foreign dignitaries who had arrived to celebrate Mr. Qingyun’s birthday had already departed, this matter didn’t cause much stir. As for Mo Jingli, the protagonist of this marriage, he was likely the only one genuinely thrilled. He deliberately chose Licheng to hold the wedding, perhaps as a display of defiance towards Prince Ding’s Mansion. However, upon remembering that he only got his chance because Prince Ding’s Mansion had first refused Cangmang Mountain, this desire to show off couldn’t help but become somewhat more awkward and uninteresting. Consequently, his initial deep respect and caution for Cangmang Mountain shrunk to a mere seventy percent.

Compared to Dongfang You’s resentment and rejection of the wedding, Dongfang Hui was equally upset. After Prince Ding’s Mansion rejected her proposal, and she subsequently turned down Ren Qining, Cangmang Mountain’s only remaining choice was Mo Jingli. However, her choosing Mo Jingli and then marrying down to become the wife of Cangmang Mountain’s heir was a vastly different scenario from the current situation.

Originally, if Dongfang You had married into Prince Li’s Mansion, Cangmang Mountain would have maintained its lofty status. However, for her to marry now, after all that had transpired, would fundamentally alter the perception of Great Chu’s ministers. What’s more, Cangmang Mountain couldn’t even object to Dongfang You’s marriage. The affair between Mo Jingli and Dongfang You, though not public knowledge, was known by all who needed to know. Faced with such a loss they had to suffer in silence, Cangmang Mountain had no choice but to swallow its pride.

All these messy affairs left Dongfang Hui in a tumultuous mood, causing her to grow increasingly resentful of Prince Ding’s Mansion and the Xu Family. In truth, as soon as Prince Ding’s Mansion refused Cangmang Mountain, its situation became delicate. If they didn’t immediately withdraw from worldly affairs and return to Cangmang Mountain to live in seclusion, they could only choose another person to support. However, doing so would greatly damage Cangmang Mountain’s reputation for selecting leaders on behalf of Heaven.

They originally chose Prince Ding’s Mansion, but then switched to someone else when Prince Ding’s Mansion showed no interest. This implied that the so-called "lord of the world" was not predetermined at all. If that was the case, with heroes vying for supremacy based on their own abilities, why would they need Cangmang Mountain to choose for them on behalf of Heaven?

It was for this reason that Mo Jingli and Dongfang You’s marriage didn’t cause a major upheaval. While Cangmang Mountain’s power was envied and resented, the drawbacks of their intervention were clear to many. Many simply couldn’t let go of the prestige associated with choosing the "Son of Heaven." Now that Cangmang Mountain’s so-called reputation was nearly empty talk, a group of seemingly clueless women had lost much of their importance.

While Mo Jingli and the Dongfang family were busily preparing for the wedding, there was no idleness at Prince Ding’s Mansion either. From Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li down to the regular soldiers of the Mo Family Army, everyone was sharpening their weapons and preparing for a potential expedition at any moment. The senior officers within Prince Ding’s Mansion understood clearly that this expedition would be a life-or-death battle against the Beirong army. It was to avenge the near annihilation of the Mo Family Army years ago and the death of the previous Prince Ding, Mo Xiuwen. Not a single Beirong soldier who had stepped inside the pass would be allowed to return to Beirong.

「In the Nanzhao guesthouse」

Ye Li sat across from Princess Anxi, leisurely sipping tea. Princess Anxi’s belly was already quite large, clearly indicating a healthy and strong little prince or princess within. Princess Anxi’s formerly vibrant and energetic countenance had softened, now imbued with a measure of gentility and grace. No matter how high-ranking or powerful a woman might be, once she was about to become a mother, she would naturally exude an increased gentleness and maternal love.

Ye Li smiled apologetically at Princess Anxi. "I’ve been incredibly busy lately, and just when I finally have a moment to breathe, I find I must prepare for a long journey. I’m afraid I haven’t been able to host you as properly as I should."

Princess Anxi, being a queen, naturally wasn’t someone with whom ordinary noblewomen could easily converse. Moreover, Ye Li had indeed been swamped with various matters, leading to some unintentional neglect in her duties as a hostess.

Princess Anxi smiled and said, "We are both people whose circumstances are beyond our control; what is there to apologize for? Are you planning to follow Prince Ding into battle this time?"

Ye Li nodded. "Naturally." Although she worried about their two newborn children, she was more concerned about Mo Xiuyao on the battlefield. Last time, in Xiling, he had nearly lost control. This time, they would be facing the Beirong and Helian Zhen, who had nearly wiped out half of northern Great Chu and bore a deep-seated hatred for the Mo Family Army. How could Ye Li be at peace? Speaking of which, she felt she hadn’t been fair to their three children. Mo Xiaobao had been mostly raised by the Xu Family over these years. Now, with their two youngest only two months old, they had to go to war once again, entrusting the children to the care of her eldest and second sisters-in-law.

"Speaking of which, I once dreamed of riding my horse into battle, but it seems you’ve beaten me to it," Princess Anxi said with a light, sighing laugh. "Princess Consort Ding could be considered the foremost female general of our time."

Ye Li smiled helplessly. "What female general? I’ve never truly led an army in battle. I’m merely there to observe."

Princess Anxi laughed. "Indeed, how could Prince Ding allow you to lead troops into the thick of battle? The Princess Consort should be the strategist, planning maneuvers from behind the scenes. Isn’t there a saying in your Central Plains that ’mighty generals are easy to find, but a skilled strategist is rare’?"

Ye Li was silent. Do we have such a saying in our Central Plains?

After a moment of silence, Ye Li chuckled. "Now that the Central Plains are in chaos, the Queen is idly remaining aloof. It’s rather enviable."

Nanzhao, located in the remote Southern Border region, had been considered a barren land since ancient times. Although the emperors of the Central Plains, regardless of who was ruling, always liked to wage a war or two against it, no one had ever truly conquered it. This wasn’t to say Nanzhao was incredibly strong. Despite its people being fierce, Nanzhao was a small, impoverished state with limited military power. Emperors of past dynasties attacked Nanzhao either because it had violated their borders or because, during times of peace and prosperity, they wished to expand their territory and add a glorious Chapter to their reigns in the history books. No one would truly mobilize the entire nation’s strength to attack Nanzhao, because even if it were conquered, the gains would be far less than the costs. And once an era of widespread war began, the various warlords had no mind to concern themselves with Nanzhao; they were too busy seizing the fertile lands of the Central Plains—who would have time to bother with a small, remote country?

Ye Li playfully asked, "It seems the Queen truly has no desire to participate in this age of chaos?"

She could understand Princess Anxi’s sentiment. While the Princess possessed governing talent, women, by nature, often lacked the fierce ambition to conquer territories and achieve hegemony. For the people of Nanzhao, this might not be a bad thing. Though Nanzhao’s army was strong, its total population was only a few hundred thousand. Many tribal regions only nominally accepted rule, governing themselves. In the impending chaotic wars, potentially involving millions, Nanzhao’s participation would likely make them mere cannon fodder.

Princess Anxi shook her head, gently stroking her belly, smiled and said, "All I hope for is that the people of Nanzhao can live in peace and prosperity, that this child of mine is born and grows up safely, and later inherits the throne. Then my life would be complete."

Ye Li sighed softly. "For ordinary people, all they ask for in life is peace. Your Majesty’s ability to protect her subjects is a matter of immeasurable merit."

Princess Anxi said with a smile, "With the current chaotic situation in the Central Plains, only the people under Prince Ding and your rule can live in peace, without worrying about the horrors of war. No wonder, on our journey northwards, the common people in many regions expressed such gratitude towards Prince Ding and the Princess Consort."

Ye Li merely smiled softly at Princess Anxi’s praise. In life, being able to protect the peace of one’s people was satisfaction enough; praise or condemnation hardly mattered.

"Your Majesty, Princess Consort, a woman outside who calls herself Princess Qixia is requesting an audience," the attendant waiting outside respectfully reported at the door.

Hearing the attendant’s words, Princess Anxi furrowed her brow in slight displeasure. "What does she want?"

As for this sister, Princess Anxi felt her heart had grown cold. Princess Qixia was her only full sister. However, during her difficult and perilous struggles against Shu Manlin in their youth, Princess Qixia had not only failed to help but had even sided with Shu Manlin against her due to Mo Jingli. Ultimately, she had run off to Great Chu, refusing to return, and brought immense shame upon the Nanzhao royal family. Even during their recent meeting in Licheng, Princess Qixia’s words were filled with dissatisfaction and jealousy towards her, the elder sister. Princess Qixia only remembered that *I* was proclaimed Eldest Princess and inherited the Nanzhao throne; she never considered the suffering and difficulties *I* endured when framed by Shu Manlin and suppressed by our own father. A sister like that? It would be better to have none at all.

"Well, in a few days, she will return to Jiangnan with Prince Li. Let her in," Princess Anxi said indifferently.

The attendant accepted the command and left. Ye Li stood up. "If you sisters wish to reminisce, I shall take my leave."

Princess Anxi quickly took her hand. "I don’t have much to say to her. You’re about to go to war, and who knows when we’ll meet again? Please, stay seated."

Ye Li had originally intended to give the sisters some private space to talk. However, seeing Princess Anxi’s reaction, and as she did indeed have more to discuss with her, she no longer refused and sat back down.

In a short while, Princess Qixia walked in. Seeing Ye Li present, she paused for a moment before timidly approaching Princess Anxi and whispering, "Royal Sister."

Princess Qixia was already twenty-eight or twenty-nine this year. Although still beautiful and striking, she was no longer a young girl. Her current demeanor seemed less pitiably charming and more affected. Princess Anxi frowned slightly and gestured to a nearby chair. "Why are you here? Sit down and speak."

Princess Qixia’s affected manner failed to achieve the desired effect; she lowered her head in disappointment and walked to the chair Princess Anxi had indicated, then sat. Princess Anxi asked, "What happened?"

Princess Qixia bit her lip, her eyes welling with tears. "Prince Li is going to marry that Dongfang You! Royal Sister, please, you must help me make things right!"

A shadow of irritation crossed Princess Anxi’s brow. During this period, Princess Qixia had visited the guesthouse several times, implicitly suggesting that Nanzhao should pressure Prince Li’s Mansion to make him officially marry her as a consort. Naturally, Princess Anxi had refused. Even as the Queen of Nanzhao, she couldn’t meddle in whom the Regent Prince of Great Chu chose to marry. Moreover, since the Nanzhao royal family had long since annulled Princess Qixia’s title, any intervention on her part would lack legitimacy.

"How can I decide whom Prince Li marries? Qixia, you are no longer young. Can you still not see these things clearly?" Princess Anxi said with a frown.

Princess Qixia said aggrievedly, "But that Cangmang Mountain is exceedingly arrogant! That Dongfang You forced Prince Li to promise that in the future, Prince Li’s Mansion will only have two official Princess Consorts. No one else is to be given a title, nor can anyone bear his child before Dongfang You does! Even if Prince Li ascends the throne in the future, he is not allowed to enfeoff me as a consort!"

Recalling Dongfang You’s arrogant demeanor in her presence, Princess Qixia wished she could stab her to death. She, too, was a princess of a nation, yet she was being bullied like this by a girl from the countryside! Unfortunately, she knew that regardless of whether Mo Jingli liked Dongfang You or not, the ones he valued most now were undoubtedly Dongfang You and Cangmang Mountain. If she truly harmed Dongfang You, Mo Jingli would probably kill her first.

Princess Anxi turned to Ye Li. "Princess Consort, this Dongfang You..." Although Princess Anxi knew a little about Dongfang You and Cangmang Mountain, she didn’t fully understand the situation.

Ye Li shook her head. "Let’s not discuss Dongfang Hui. But Dongfang You spends her days incessantly reciting the doctrines for wives, consorts, and empresses, acting as if she were a living female sage. She shouldn’t be making such outrageous demands, should she? Princess Qixia has likely omitted something, hasn’t she?"

Princess Anxi looked at Princess Qixia, whose expression changed slightly. Biting her lip, she said resentfully, "It’s that Dongfang Hui... she said my status is too low, unworthy of being Princess Consort Li."

Was Princess Qixia of low status? Of course not. Although the nobles of the Central Plains, who prided themselves on their orthodoxy, tended to look down on the border kingdoms, they still accorded a certain respect to the status of a princess. But Princess Qixia was different. Everyone knew that the title of Princess Qixia of Nanzhao had long ceased to exist in the world.

Princess Qixia had been designated Consort Xia by the late Emperor Mo Jingqi. However, because "Princess Qixia" reportedly died of illness before the official conferment ceremony, she was not recorded in the imperial family’s genealogical records. Despite this, she was nominally Mo Jingqi’s woman. The current Qixia, however, was merely a concubine of uncertain origin in Prince Li’s Mansion, nearly thirty years old and still without a proper rank. Thus, Dongfang Hui was not entirely wrong to call her status lowly.

In fact, Princess Qixia’s devotion to Mo Jingli was truly profound, perhaps even surpassing Ye Ying’s. However, it was difficult to say how much space Princess Qixia truly occupied in Mo Jingli’s heart. After all these years, if Mo Jingli had genuinely cared, he could have somehow granted Princess Qixia the title of Secondary Consort, rather than letting her remain in Prince Li’s Mansion in such an awkward, nameless, and status-less position. Now that the heir of Cangmang Mountain was marrying into Prince Li’s Mansion—and Dongfang You was no helpless, unskilled Ye Ying—it was no wonder Princess Qixia was growing anxious.

Princess Anxi looked at Princess Qixia and asked, "How do you want me to help you?"

Princess Qixia’s eyes lit up, and she said hastily, "As long as you, Royal Sister, agree to form an alliance with Great Chu... Nanzhao’s strength is no weaker than Cangmang Mountain’s. If that happens... then Prince Li could naturally be made to officially marry me as his consort..."

"Outrageous!" Hearing this, Princess Anxi erupted in anger. She glared coldly at Princess Qixia. "I thought you had matured over these years, but I see you’re still so reckless! You want me, for your own personal affair, to drag the entirety of Nanzhao and our Nanzhao soldiers into the flames of war in the Central Plains? As a princess of Nanzhao, have you ever done a single thing for the people of Nanzhao? What do they owe you, that they should have to risk their lives for your personal rank?"

"I..." Reproached so harshly by Princess Anxi, Princess Qixia was stunned. She stared blankly at Princess Anxi. "Royal Sister, I..."

Princess Anxi waved her hand, cutting her off. "You needn’t say more," she said indifferently. "Your Prince Li... if he were truly a good man, I wouldn’t mind taking a gamble for you. But I’ll tell you honestly, I don’t think highly of him. If you’re willing, come back to Nanzhao with me this time. Find a good man and marry him. Even without the dignity of a princess, no one in Nanzhao would dare to bully you. As for other matters, don’t even think about them."

"I..."

How could Qixia not know that her future days in Great Chu would be difficult? But to give up everything and return to Nanzhao—that was something she absolutely could not do. She had sacrificed too much for Mo Jingli. Not to mention her youth of over a decade, what could ever compensate for that? If she left just like this, what would those ten-plus years have meant?

Looking at Princess Anxi, who was now gently stroking her protruding belly and ignoring her, Princess Qixia realized she couldn’t persuade her elder sister. Tears welling, she cried out, "Royal Sister, your heart is too cold!" With that, she turned and ran out.

Princess Anxi watched her retreating figure and sighed softly. "Am I really so heartless?" she murmured, as if to herself.

Ye Li said gently, "You merely did what you had to do. You are not only Princess Qixia’s sister; you are also the Queen of Nanzhao."

"Indeed," Princess Anxi smiled bitterly. "If I were a softhearted person, the grass on my grave would be meters high by now. Oh well, let her be. I just wonder if we’ll ever see each other again in this lifetime."

Seeing her so melancholic, Ye Li could only offer some gentle words of comfort. Her own relationships with Ye Zhen, Ye Ying, and the others were distant, and they weren’t born of the same mother, so she naturally couldn’t fully empathize with Princess Anxi’s feelings. However, if it concerned her cousins from her previous life, she imagined she too would feel quite sorrowful.

Despite Dongfang You’s extreme reluctance, the wedding of Mo Jingli and Dongfang You proceeded as scheduled. However, the lavishness of the wedding did not even amount to one-third of Mr. Qingyun’s birthday banquet. This was understandable. The dignitaries from various nations had just departed; they certainly wouldn’t rush back merely to witness Prince Li marrying the heir of Cangmang Mountain. Besides, with Cangmang Mountain’s support, Prince Li was now their formidable enemy. The fact that they didn’t secretly cause trouble was already a show of respect for Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding, given that Licheng was the territory of Prince Ding’s Mansion. Why would they then make a special trip to offer congratulations?

「Having attended Mo Jingli’s wedding, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao left Licheng that very night, heading towards Feihong Pass.」

Beyond Feihong Pass, Great Chu’s major northern enemy at this time seemed to have split, with the Beirong forces and the Mo Family Army now in a standoff. As soon as Yelv Ye returned to the Beirong camp, he immediately redeployed his troops, shifting Beirong’s front line southward. Simultaneously, he dispatched an urgent letter by fast horse to the King of Beirong, requesting reinforcements with the aim of crushing the Mo Family Army in one fell swoop.

Yelv Hong also kept his promise, writing a joint letter with Yelv Ye to the King of Beirong, requesting that Helian Zhen be allowed to lead troops to assist Yelv Ye in attacking Great Chu. Ever since Helian Zhen’s defeat by the then eighteen-year-old Mo Xiuyao, he had been cast aside by the King of Beirong. Although his circumstances had improved slightly over the past few years, his defeat back then had left Beirong unable to recover for several years. Consequently, the King of Beirong greatly disparaged Helian Zhen’s abilities and naturally had no intention of entrusting him with significant responsibilities again.

Although Yelv Ye harbored some suspicions about Yelv Hong’s motives for helping him, considering the predicament he had arranged for Yelv Hong upon the latter’s return to Beirong, he didn’t pay it much mind. In any case, he desperately needed Helian Zhen’s assistance at this juncture.

The Beirong reinforcements would not arrive immediately, but Yelv Ye was unconcerned. He continued to mobilize troops from various locations, preparing to launch several surprise attacks on the Mo Family Army. However, Lv Jinxian, stationed at the border, was not as unprepared as Yelv Ye assumed. Detecting the unusual movements of the Beirong army, Lv Jinxian also mobilized his troops accordingly. Within a short span of five days, the two armies clashed more than three times. The northern regions of Great Chu were once again engulfed in the flames of war.

Meanwhile, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li were nowhere near the battlefield. Instead, they were leisurely strolling through the Northern Territory, beyond Zijing Pass. After dyeing their iconic white hair black and slightly altering their appearances, they resembled an uncommonly attractive young couple, a stark contrast to the imposing, world-defying Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding renowned in Licheng.

Accompanying Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li was Tan Jizhi, who had recently been released from Prince Ding’s Mansion. Very few people in the world knew Tan Jizhi’s true identity, and most of them were already dead. After two years of silence, even fewer could recognize him. Therefore, he felt no concern about being identified even when walking openly in his true appearance in the Northern Territory.

It was unclear whether Ren Qining was driven by an eagerness for quick success or by genuine self-confidence, but after the Northern Territory Army captured Zijing Pass, he had relocated the original capital of the Northern Territory to Changqing City. This city, once the most prosperous in Great Chu’s northeast, was a mere three hundred-odd li from Zijing Pass. He established his new capital there and initiated grand construction projects for a new palace. Although the royal palace was not yet fully completed, its basic form was already discernible. Changqing City was also filled with numerous magnificent and spacious mansions for officials, their opulence rivaling even those in Licheng and the Capital of Great Chu.

However, a strange phenomenon was evident in Changqing City. Apart from a few concentrated areas of grand, stately homes, the rest of the city was dilapidated beyond description; even thatched huts and humble dwellings were commonplace. It bore no resemblance to the major northeastern city of Great Chu it once was. It seemed as if the city were inhabited only by extremely wealthy officials and nobles on one hand, and destitute people struggling for food and clothing on the other. The ordinary families—those not affluent but at least secure in their daily needs, who should have constituted the majority—appeared to be entirely absent. Such an extreme polarization was unusual even for a remote small town, let alone a capital city like Changqing.

Tan Jizhi followed Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao into an inconspicuous inn in the city. The innkeeper escorted the three of them to a secluded room on the second floor and then bowed respectfully. "This subordinate greets Your Highness and Your Highness the Princess Consort."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Dispense with the formalities. You’ve worked hard these past two years."

The innkeeper replied respectfully, "It is this subordinate’s duty; how could I dare speak of hardship? Accommodations have already been arranged for Your Highness and the Princess Consort. Please rest assured. If the Princess Consort has any tasks for this subordinate, please do not hesitate to command."

Ye Li nodded and smiled, "Very well. You may leave for now. If His Highness or I need anything, we will call for you."

"This subordinate takes his leave," the innkeeper said deferentially and withdrew without further questions.

Who would have thought that Prince Ding’s Mansion had spies even here in Changqing City? Their network is truly pervasive. Ren Qining has indeed provoked a formidable foe; it seems Heaven itself wills his doom.

Considering the city’s current state, Tan Jizhi surmised that Ren Qining must have initially used brutal, iron-fisted methods to eliminate dissent. The fact that this innkeeper could remain securely established in the city, speaking without the slightest hint of difficulty or worry, spoke volumes of his capabilities and deep-rooted presence. It wasn’t just Ren Qining who would be troubled by such a foe; Tan Jizhi himself felt a pang of dismay. Could he truly contend with such a man?