Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 403 - 402. The World’s Number One ’Hidden Weapon

Chapter 402: The World’s Number One "Hidden Weapon"

"Your Highness?"

Mo Xiuyao waved his hand and casually wiped the blood from his lips. "As expected, Ling Tiehan’s reputation is not unearned." Even though he seemed to have the upper hand, with Mo Xiuyao’s perceptive eyes, he saw clearly that Ling Tiehan was feigning weakness. Moreover, Ling Tiehan was severely injured, but Mo Xiuyao’s internal injuries were also serious. As Ling Tiehan said, if he put everything into it, the end result would just be which one of them died more horrifically. He had no intention of perishing together with Ling Tiehan.

"Your Highness, should we...?" the guard beside him asked in a low voice. The King of Hell Pavilion had been almost entirely destroyed, and Ling Tiehan was heavily injured. They could just send some people to pursue and capture Ling Tiehan’s group.

Mo Xiuyao shook his head and said, "Forget about it; let’s discuss this later." He believed what Leng Liyue said about Ling Tiehan showing mercy to Ah-Li. At their level of expertise, if they wanted to ambush someone, unless it was a peer, it would be hard for anyone else to escape intact. Of course, Mo Xiuyao also understood that Ling Tiehan definitely wouldn’t confront Prince Ding’s Mansion because of Lei Zhenting, but he hadn’t expected Ling Tiehan to actually take action. Even if Ah-Li wasn’t injured, he couldn’t just pretend nothing had happened.

"Ling Tiehan is still useful. Have someone deliver a letter to Ling Tiehan for me later," Mo Xiuyao ordered.

"Yes, sir."

"Your Highness, Commander Mo sent a secret letter." A hidden guard appeared before Mo Xiuyao and handed over a sealed letter. Mo Xiuyao arched an eyebrow, took the letter, and opened it, but his expression changed instantly. "Mo Jingli, I will make sure you beg for death but cannot find it!"

The two hidden guards standing beside him took an imperceptible step back and secretly prayed for the person who had angered the Prince.

Mo Xiuyao stared at the letter in his hand, his eyes filled with chilling intent. You want to make Ah-Li the empress? I will make sure you will not become the emperor; let’s see what you can do then!

"Someone," Mo Xiuyao called after a long while, crumbling the letter in his hand to powder and scattering it with a wave.

"Your Highness, please give your order." A hidden guard in black appeared behind Mo Xiuyao, bowing to await his orders. Mo Xiuyao said indifferently, "Have Mo Hua take my token and go to Nanjing personally. Tell the Empress Dowager that the emperor of Great Chu can be replaced. I guarantee Mo Jingli won’t go bother her."

"Understood." The hidden guard took one look at the brooding Mo Xiuyao and hastily accepted the command before swiftly departing. The Prince is in a bad mood right now; whoever crosses him will be unlucky.

On the third day after Lei Zhenting left Feihong Pass, the war that had paused for a few days was ignited again. Perhaps it was because of the confirmation of Mo Xiuyao’s death, the Xiling Army did not show the usual caution and circuitous probing they had employed when facing Mo Xiuyao previously. They charged in full force, all directed at Feihong Pass. Meanwhile, Mo Jingli brought the Great Chu reinforcements, originally intended to bolster Cold Valley Pass, and directly bypassed Cold Valley Pass. They headed northwest to Yuming Pass at a rapid pace, occupying Liyang City in Yunzhou.

Liyang is a vital point on the road from the Capital of Great Chu to Feihong Pass. It is also the hometown of the Xu Family, a prominent family in Yunzhou. After the Xu Family moved to the Northwest ten years ago, the influential Chu Clan, which has marriage ties with the Xu Family, became the most prominent family in Liyang. Unfortunately, even though Mo Jingli is the emperor of Great Chu, his arrival was not welcomed by the people of Yunzhou and Liyang. All these prominent families kept their doors shut and completely ignored Mo Jingli, leaving him deeply chagrined. If it weren’t for his barely remaining rationality, he might have already slaughtered these families.

On the other hand, Lei Zhenting’s Xiling Army was also having a rough time. The Mo Family Army, led by several renowned generals like Murong Shen and Marquis South, infiltrated and caused trouble everywhere for the Xiling Army. Despite their lack of command of the Art of War and manpower compared to Lei Zhenting, they had no problem creating chaos and hindering the Xiling Army’s advance. Especially with Princess Consort Ding’s guidance before they left Feihong Pass, they quickly understood and utilized the sixteen-character mantra: "Retreat when the enemy advances, pursue when the enemy retreats, harass when the enemy camps, strike when the enemy is exhausted." Lei Zhenting felt utterly upset, as if he had swallowed a fly—sickening, yet he could neither spit it out nor swallow it down.

In the Xiling Army camp, Lei Zhenting stared at the map in front of him with a somber expression. The news of Mo Xiuyao’s death and the imminent defeat of the Mo Family Army failed to bring him any joy or pleasure. He glanced at Lei Tengfeng, who, dressed in battle attire and looking fatigued, entered, and asked in a low voice, "How many days until we reach Feihong Pass?"

Lei Tengfeng replied, "Originally, our army would have been at Feihong Pass within three days. But now... I’m afraid it will take at least half a month. Father, now that Mo Xiuyao is dead, there’s no need for us to rush. Shall we first eliminate those troublemakers?" As long as Mo Xiuyao was dead, the Mo Family Army would be without a leader. With time on their side, Xiling would eventually defeat the Mo Family Army. Thus, Lei Tengfeng couldn’t understand why his father was in such a rush, especially with the lingering threats from Murong Shen and Marquis South.

Lei Zhenting shook his head and said, "We don’t have time."

"Father?" Lei Tengfeng raised an eyebrow in confusion. Lei Zhenting managed a bitter smile. "Mo Xiuyao’s death is good news for Xiling. But... for the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion, this might not necessarily be beneficial at this point."

"I am slow-witted, Father. Please forgive my confusion," Lei Tengfeng said, bowing his head.

Lei Zhenting sighed. "Tengfeng, after all, the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion is not directly part of the Xiling imperial family. In Ancheng City, there is still His Majesty." The Xiling Emperor really has no significant abilities, but he is not a fool either. Over the years, he has simply been playing dumb.

Lei Tengfeng frowned. "His Majesty? What can he do? Xiling is under your control, Father."

Lei Zhenting shook his head. "How strong was Prince Ding’s Mansion back then? Yet it was almost wiped out by Mo Jingli, whom even you don’t take seriously. Isn’t that enough of a lesson for you?"

"What do you mean, Father?!" Lei Tengfeng asked in surprise.

Lei Zhenting gave a wry smile. Originally, with Mo Xiuyao as a powerful rival, the Xiling Emperor naturally had some reservations. Who said the Xiling Emperor was completely incompetent? These years, Lei Zhenting has been handling all the major and minor affairs of Xiling, working himself to the bone. But the rightful ruler of Xiling, high above all, is still the Xiling Emperor. Now, Mo Xiuyao is dead, and Lei Zhenting is out fighting; this is the perfect time for the Xiling Emperor to seize power.

Lei Tengfeng frowned. He had always despised his uncle, who sat on the throne. But he also understood that the Xiling Emperor, despite appearing incompetent for many years, possessed his own kind of capability to have remained securely on the throne. After all, the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion was not like Prince Ding’s Mansion of the past, which wholeheartedly supported the imperial family. However, if they were not careful, Prince Ding’s Mansion’s fate could become a grim precedent for the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion.

"I have been shortsighted, Father. Please forgive my oversight," Lei Tengfeng said, bowing his head in apology.

Lei Zhenting waved his hand and laughed. "It’s alright. I know you’ve been a bit distraught these past few days because of Murong Shen and the others. However, you’re right. This can’t go on. I’ll leave you with two hundred thousand troops. Can you cover our army’s rear?"

Lei Tengfeng’s spirits revived, and he replied loudly, "I won’t disappoint you, Father."

Lei Zhenting nodded. "I trust you. But...be very careful. Just holding them off is enough; you don’t need to rush to annihilate the enemy. The Mo Family Army suddenly changing tactics this time suggests there are experts at work behind the scenes."

Lei Tengfeng frowned. "Experts? Are there experts in the Mo Family Army, besides Mo Xiuyao, that even you, Father, would find difficult to handle?"

Lei Zhenting pondered, then sighed with a somewhat complex expression. "If I’m not mistaken, it should be Ye Li. Apart from her, the Mo Family Army consists of battle-hardened military commanders who wouldn’t use such unconventional tactics." As for Ye Li, Lei Zhenting was never sure what to make of her. In his opinion, Ye Li was definitely not a peerless military talent. Yet, this very woman frequently achieved astonishing military successes that he hadn’t anticipated. When he later studied her methods, Lei Zhenting discovered that her tactics could only be described by one word: "unexpected." Because they were unexpected, they were impossible to replicate. Such an approach demanded boundless imagination and extraordinary courage. Naturally, Lei Zhenting would never have guessed that Ye Li’s methods stemmed not from some wild, innate genius, but from possessing millennia of insights and military knowledge beyond their own. A true prodigy carves out their own unique domain, and Ye Li, in truth, was still far from reaching such a realm.

Lei Tengfeng nodded gravely. "Don’t worry, Father, I won’t act recklessly." Now in his thirties, Lei Tengfeng had long passed his rash youth and knew the weight of responsibility. He wouldn’t risk his father’s entire plan for a moment’s glory.

Lei Zhenting nodded. "Of course, I trust you. Now go and prepare. Tonight, I will lead the main force and depart at once."

"Yes, Father, take care. Tengfeng withdraws."

「Feihong Pass」

"Princess Consort, Southern Garrison Prince Lei Zhenting is leading an army of seven hundred thousand, advancing on Feihong Pass via two routes." In the general’s mansion, Ye Li and Han Mingyue, who were playing chess, paused their game. Ye Li smiled faintly. "So he’s finally arrived?"

Han Mingyue leisurely returned the chess pieces to the box beside him, smiling. "The Princess Consort doesn’t seem nervous at all."

Ye Li smiled. "Nervousness only leads to wrong judgments and offers no benefit whatsoever. Besides, we already knew this was coming, didn’t we?" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Han Mingyue raised an eyebrow and smiled without speaking. He was always curious about where Ye Li’s bottom line lay. It seemed that nothing could truly make her break down or feel fear. "The Princess Consort’s strength of will surpasses that of many men."

Ye Li chuckled and shook her head. "Actually, women’s capacity for patience and endurance is generally far superior to men’s. It’s just that..." It’s just that the women of this era have been bound by various rites and raised in secluded inner chambers, sheltered from the storms of life. As a result, they tend to lose control, scream in distress, or even faint at the slightest trouble.

Han Mingyue laughed. "Seeing the Princess Consort, I now believe that statement."

Ye Li managed a helpless, bitter smile. Wasn’t she forced into this? If even she lost her composure at this moment, the entirety of Feihong Pass would likely descend into chaos. Looking at Ye Li’s calm and composed, beautiful face, Han Mingyue asked, "In two days at most, Lei Zhenting’s army will likely be at our gates. What are the Princess Consort’s plans?"

"Plans?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled softly. "First, let’s send him a grand gift. Then we can discuss plans. How about that?"

"I eagerly await it," Han Mingyue said with a smile.

「Two days later」

Less than ten miles from Feihong Pass, the Xiling Army’s morale was high as they advanced, sweeping all before them. Seeing Feihong Pass seemingly within reach, Lei Zhenting, at the very front, finally showed a hint of a smile. Once they take Feihong Pass, there will be no more defensible positions in the Northwest. Without Mo Xiuyao, and with their main generals dispatched elsewhere, the Mo Family Army will surely be like headless dragons. Then... Ye Li, will you regret this?

"Prince, we are less than ten miles from Feihong Pass. Shall we set up camp here?" A scout from the vanguard rode back and reported, cupping his hands respectfully. Lei Zhenting raised his eyebrows and surveyed the terrain ahead. The landscape was open and flat, with only a lone mountain to the southwest. Although not ideal for defense, launching a surprise attack on such open ground would be equally difficult for the enemy. Though Lei Zhenting didn’t think Ye Li could spare the forces for a surprise attack now, he still had to be cautious.

Nodding, Lei Zhenting said, "Set up camp here. Prepare to attack tomorrow morning."

"As you command!" The Vice General acknowledged the order and departed, instructing the entire army to make camp.

Not far away, atop the lone mountain, Ye Li stood at a hidden spot on the cliff with Feng Zhiyao and others, watching the Xiling Army setting up camp below. Seeing the densely packed and orderly troops, Han Mingxi couldn’t help sighing repeatedly. "There must be seven or eight hundred thousand of them, right? Are we really going to defend Feihong Pass to the death?" They didn’t even have three hundred thousand soldiers at Feihong Pass.

Feng Zhiyao glanced at him. "Unless Scholar Fengyue can think of a place easier to defend and harder to attack than Feihong Pass." Once the Xiling Army breached Feihong Pass, further defense would be pointless. The land all the way to Licheng was flat and open; even Licheng itself could hardly be called impregnable. Licheng was merely a moderately sized city in the Northwest that had been refortified. Although ten years had passed, its defenses were still a far cry from those of the Xiling Imperial City or the Capital of Great Chu.

Han Mingxi shrugged nonchalantly. After all, he knew nothing of battlefield matters and was just grumbling casually.

"Princess Consort, why did we come here? Just to see how many troops Lei Zhenting brought?" Feng Zhiyao was also curious. The Princess Consort had said she would prepare a grand gift for Lei Zhenting’s army, but he truly had no idea what she had prepared that required them to come here to witness it.

Ye Li looked at the Xiling Army setting up camp below and sighed a little helplessly. "This really isn’t a good place, but we have no other choice. Qin Feng, are you ready?"

Standing behind Ye Li, Qin Feng nodded. "Princess Consort, please rest assured. Everything has been prepared."

"Good. Begin. Lei Zhenting should be sending men up the mountain soon," Ye Li nodded.

"Yes." With a wave of Qin Feng’s hand, over a hundred Black Cloud Cavalry appeared on the edge of the cliff, bows nocked with arrows, aimed at the camp below.

Feng Zhiyao couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "Princess Consort, you’re not planning to use these hundred-odd men to greet Lei Zhenting, are you?" Never mind whether they could hit anything at this distance; even if they did, how much power would the arrows retain? Against eight hundred thousand men, these hundred Black Cloud Cavalry could shoot until they foamed at the mouth and still not kill many.

Ye Li smiled. "Just watch. Fire!"

SWISH! SWISH!

The black-feathered arrows shot from the bowstrings, streaking towards the Xiling Army camp. The Xiling Army, also elite troops, reacted instantly to the sound of arrows cutting through the air. "Enemy attack!"

In moments, the entire army was on alert. But no matter how quickly the Xiling soldiers reacted, they couldn’t outpace arrows already in flight. Soon, however, they discovered that the black-feathered arrows weren’t aimed at people but were landing on open ground, haystacks, or tents. Just as they were wondering about the meaning of this, Lei Zhenting, a veteran of countless battles, instinctively sensed danger and roared, "Retreat!"

BOOM! Before his voice had even faded, a heaven-shaking explosion erupted, followed by a series of deafening blasts. A thick smell of gunpowder filled the air in the still-unfinished camp, accompanied by the screams of countless soldiers.

The continuous explosions lasted for nearly ten minutes before gradually subsiding. When the thick smoke from the blasts began to dissipate, Lei Zhenting, covered in dust and grime, stood up to see a scene of utter devastation: countless severed limbs and widespread carnage. Many soldiers had been killed instantly by the blasts, some unluckily blown to pieces. Many more were grievously wounded, missing arms or legs, moaning in agony on the ground. Even the soldiers fortunate enough to be unharmed were terrified; some of the more timid ones had collapsed, crying out for their parents.

It wasn’t that the Xiling soldiers were too cowardly; it was that no one had ever witnessed such terrifying power. If anyone had paid close attention to the details of the Mo Family Army’s battle for the Capital of Great Chu years ago, they might have been somewhat prepared. But in that battle, the Mo Family Army had used explosives sparingly, and they hadn’t caused major casualties. Moreover, news of it had been strictly suppressed afterward; even many soldiers within the Mo Family Army knew little, let alone the people of Xiling.

On the cliff, everyone stared dumbfounded at the scene below. After a long pause, Feng Zhiyao finally managed to choke out, "So powerful..." He had actually witnessed these things once in the Capital of Great Chu, but he hadn’t been particularly impressed. Back then, the devices seemed cumbersome to transport and not especially destructive. But this time, the impact was truly shocking.

Ye Li gazed at the carnage below, her eyes lowered, saying nothing.

"Ye Li?!" Down below, Lei Zhenting, looking at the horrific scene, finally couldn’t stop himself from roaring her name. His gaze, like a lightning bolt, shot towards the figures on the cliff, accurately finding Ye Li’s position. Lei Zhenting was incandescent with rage. This recent series of explosions had resulted in tens of thousands of casualties—dead and severely wounded—in the Xiling Army. Although this wasn’t a crippling blow to Lei Zhenting’s force of over seven hundred thousand, the fact that the Mo Family Army had inflicted such massive damage without a single loss of their own was a consequence that went far beyond mere numbers.

Lei Zhenting leaped into the air, launching himself towards Ye Li and the others. While airborne, he swung his sword, sending a fierce wave of sword energy hurtling towards Ye Li.

Han Mingyue and Feng Zhiyao simultaneously sprang forward to block the sword energy. At the same time, the hundreds of Black Cloud Cavalry archers on the cliff aimed their bows at Lei Zhenting and loosed a volley. Suspended in mid-air, Lei Zhenting had no leverage. If he didn’t want to be shot into a porcupine, he would have to abandon his attack on Ye Li and retreat.

But in his towering rage, Lei Zhenting swung his long sword again, astonishingly sweeping aside all hundred-odd arrows. His sword’s momentum, undiminished, once more aimed for Ye Li.

Their first volley having missed, the Black Cloud Cavalry calmly nocked another round of arrows.

Feng Zhiyao, Qin Feng, Han Mingyue, and the others instinctively moved to shield Ye Li. If the Black Cloud Cavalry still couldn’t stop Lei Zhenting, they would have to intervene to ensure Ye Li’s safety. Han Mingxi, the only one unable to directly assist, stood beside Ye Li and keenly observed her retrieve a strangely shaped object from her sleeve and manipulate it a few times. Then he saw Ye Li raise the object towards the front and say gravely, "Third Feng, move aside."

Feng Zhiyao, standing before Ye Li, was startled but reflexively obeyed and stepped aside. A loud BANG! rang out. Feng Zhiyao felt a powerful gust of wind shoot past him. Then, Lei Zhenting, who had been so formidable in mid-air, suddenly faltered and then began to drift downwards. Feng Zhiyao clearly saw a spray of blood blossom on Lei Zhenting’s shoulder. He hadn’t seen any arrow hit him; indeed, Feng Zhiyao was certain that no arrow had struck Lei Zhenting.

Everyone turned in amazement to look at the woman in white behind them. Ye Li was still holding the object. It had a very strange appearance, with a small, dark hole. Even men as worldly as Feng Zhiyao and Han Mingxi couldn’t tell what kind of hidden weapon it was. They just felt that although the object’s appearance wasn’t appealing, when Ye Li held it, it seemed to possess a unique, elegant lethality. More importantly, this inconspicuous thing had injured Lei Zhenting, the Southern Garrison Prince of Xiling and one of the Four Great Experts of the world.

"What...what is this?"

Ye Li frowned slightly and sighed with a hint of regret. Looking at the pistol in her hand, she lamented, "It missed the mark." It was a pity; this was the best handgun they could produce at present, and it couldn’t be mass-produced. It was a single-shot pistol with an effective range of only one hundred and fifty meters. Lei Zhenting’s lightness skill was too formidable; she hadn’t even had a chance to use a rifle. Still, compared to what she had seen before, its lethality and stability had significantly improved; it was no longer just a laughable toy.

"What would have happened if it hadn’t missed?" In Han Mingxi’s view, for Ye Li to bring down Lei Zhenting when hundreds of Black Cloud Cavalry had failed to hit him was already an incredible achievement.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "I originally thought I had a hundred percent chance of hitting his head."

"You wanted to shoot through Lei Zhenting’s head?!" Everyone was aghast.

Ye Li shook her head. "This gun’s penetrating power isn’t that strong. It wouldn’t pierce his skull at this distance."

Even if it couldn’t pierce through, it was still terrifying. Imagine a master like Lei Zhenting with a hole punched in his head. The way everyone looked at Ye Li—or rather, at the object in her hand—could now be described as horrified. This was undoubtedly the world’s number one hidden weapon!