Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 356 - 355. Internal Struggle, Ren Qining’s Dilemma

Chapter 356: 355. Internal Struggle, Ren Qining’s Dilemma

355. Internal Strife, Ren Qining’s Predicament

The innkeeper’s arrangements were indeed very appropriate. The three of them were situated in a secluded courtyard at the far end of the inn. This small courtyard had a door that opened onto another street corner, allowing for easy access without arousing suspicion from outsiders. After Mo Xiuyao’s party had rested for a night, the next morning, the innkeeper came over to pay his respects again.

After Ye Li and the others had just finished their breakfast, the innkeeper entered, paid his respects, and then asked, "Did everything I prepared meet your needs?" Ye Li waved her hand with a smile. "There’s no need for such courtesy when we’re away from home; the Prince and I are quite accustomed to it. Young Master Tan?"

Seeing Ye Li ask for his opinion, Tan Jizhi could only offer a wry smile, saying lightly, "Thank you for your concern, Princess Consort. I am doing well." Even Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding had no objections, so what could he, a recently released prisoner, possibly object to?

Mo Xiuyao asked indifferently, "Has anything happened in the palace of the King of Northern Territory since Ren Qining’s return?"

The innkeeper’s expression turned serious as he respectfully said, "Your Highness, ever since the King of Northern Territory returned to Changqing City, he seems to be in a foul mood. Upon his return, he severely reprimanded several Northern Territory nobles who opposed him. These days, the contention between the Northern tribes’ former elites and the former ministers of the previous dynasty who follow the King of Northern Territory has grown increasingly fierce. The King of Northern Territory has even publicly humiliated Queen Helan multiple times to protect Consort Yun, causing extreme tension within the palace. The conflict between the people of the Northern Territory and the former ministers is on the verge of erupting."

"Is Ren Qining still in the mood to send troops to attack Zijing Pass at this juncture?" Ye Li asked curiously. They had just left the Pass and discovered that Ren Qining was also mobilizing his army to launch another attack on Zijing Pass. Clearly, the alliance between Ren Qining and Yelv Ye still existed.

The innkeeper shook his head. "Originally, as soon as the King of Northern Territory returned to Changqing, he ordered the mobilization of troops to attack Zijing Pass. However, the tribal elites of the Northern Territory did not agree to send troops, hence the delay. Apparently, only after the King took action against two tribe leaders in the palace these past few days were the troops finally fully assembled."

He continued, "Though the Northern Territory army is a million strong, the majority are from the Central Plains. The main combat strength, however, still lies with the people of the Northern Territory. Over a million troops from the Central Plains were forcefully conscripted after lands beyond Zijing Pass were occupied in the past two years. These men not only have no sense of belonging to the Northern Territory, but their combat abilities are also lacking. If Ren Qining wants to attack Zijing Pass, the Northern Territory troops must lead the charge."

Ye Li said with a smile, "This Ren Qining truly is... It’s no wonder Dongfang Hui would abandon him to choose Mo Jingli. He entered the Northern Territory as its Prince Consort and sought to establish a kingdom with the strength of the Northern people. Now that the kingdom has yet to stabilize, he is hastily sidelining the Northerners while simultaneously expecting them to fight his battles. Even if the Northerners aren’t adept at scheming, they aren’t fools. How could one expect a horse to keep running without letting it graze?"

Mo Xiuyao said calmly, "I suspect Ren Qining has little choice. As for those so-called former ministers around him, although I haven’t met them, I can imagine what kind of people they are. After suffering for so many years following the last surviving members of the former dynasty, they have finally succeeded in restoring their kingdom. How could they possibly allow those they view as barbarians from the Northern tribes to hold power over them? They undoubtedly want to seize complete control as soon as possible."

"Successful in restoring their kingdom?" Tan Jizhi looked at Mo Xiuyao strangely. Considering he’s still operating under the banner of the Northern Territory and Ren Qining doesn’t even dare to openly use Lin Yuan’s name, how could this be considered a successful restoration?

Mo Xiuyao gave Tan Jizhi a knowing smile and said, "Therefore, Young Master Tan... you are much more fortunate than Ren Qining."

Tan Jizhi stared at him with an unfriendly expression, but Mo Xiuyao paid it no mind. He said nonchalantly, "Young Master Tan, you may believe you could do better if you were in Ren Qining’s position, but... that’s only because you are not in his shoes. Thus, you cannot comprehend the agony of a person born bearing the expectations of their entire family, and indeed all those around them, for two hundred long years. At least Doctor Lin never told you, Young Master Tan, that you *must* restore the kingdom, did he? Therefore, you have the option to retreat, but Ren Qining can never turn back."

"You’re not Ren Qining. How do you know he’s in agony?" Tan Jizhi retorted bluntly.

Mo Xiuyao gave a light smile, shook his head, and said nothing more. Although he didn’t bear the two-hundred-year burden of restoring a kingdom like Tan Jizhi, the descendants of the Mo Family Army were indeed born with the mission to protect Great Chu. So, he could perhaps understand some of Ren Qining’s feelings and predicament.

Ye Li sighed softly and said, "Ren Qining is indeed a talent; it’s just a pity... A man like him, lacking no schemes, tactics, or strategies—if it weren’t for those so-called former ministers or the burden of restoring the kingdom, and if he were simply ruling the Northern Territory as its Prince Consort, he might well have achieved hegemony and wouldn’t be stuck in this current dilemma. However, on the other hand, without those old ministers who served the Lin Family for generations, Ren Qining might not possess such schemes and strategies. Ultimately, the intricacies of success and failure in such matters cannot be clarified with just a few words."

Tan Jizhi remained silent. Although he always refused to admit it, deep down, he knew he was truly inferior to Ren Qining. After all, Ren Qining had managed to unify the Northern Territory tribes and even pressured the Great Chu court into relocating to Jiangnan. He, on the other hand, had achieved nothing despite his many years of hard work and had ultimately ended up as Mo Xiuyao’s prisoner.

"Since Ren Qining is already preparing his troops, we should also hurry. Do I need to go see Queen Helan?" Ye Li asked.

Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Queen Helan is a wise woman. She will naturally come to see me once she knows we’ve arrived; there’s no need to rush."

Tan Jizhi was taken aback, then shook his head with a bitter smile. "Even Queen Helan is on your side? I really can’t think of any reason for Ren Qining not to lose."

Ye Li chuckled lightly and said, "Though Queen Helan is from the Northern Territory, she’s a truly rare and intelligent woman. Her intellect and abilities are truly outstanding among women."

Without a doubt, Ye Li greatly admired Queen Helan. Compared to Princess Anxi, Queen Helan displayed more ruthlessness and decisiveness. Her daring gamble of marrying Ren Qining to become queen, and her unhesitating decision to ally with the unfamiliar Prince Ding’s Mansion, showed this perfectly. The saying among Central Plains women, ’a couple for a day is a bond for a hundred days,’ was nothing more than empty words to her. Therefore, she wouldn’t hesitate to scheme against her own husband. In comparison, Princess Anxi tended to be much more soft-hearted towards her own kin.

Tan Jizhi sighed, "It seems the world is truly filled with extraordinary women nowadays. Princess Consort Ding, Princess Anxi, and Queen Helan really make us men feel ashamed."

Ye Li gave a light chuckle and replied, "Young Master Tan, your praise is too generous. I can’t compare to the Queen of Nanzhao or Queen Helan."

Tan Jizhi shook his head and said, "In my opinion, Princess Consort Ding is truly the most intelligent woman in this world. Regardless of Princess Anxi or Queen Helan, they might eventually rise to power and command men to kneel before them, but the only thing they could obtain is power. However, Ye Li, despite only holding the title of Princess Consort of Ding Kingdom, is not seen as a subordinate of Prince Ding in the eyes of the world, but as someone who can stand alongside him. Above all, she has attained not only enviable power but also a loving husband, a family who treasures her above all else, and the joy of having both a son and a daughter. She possesses everything a woman in this world could desire, and has obtained the very best of it. How could such a remarkable woman not be admired?"

Mo Xiuyao, hearing others praise Ye Li, though he felt a twinge of possessiveness, was delighted overall. He naturally wished that only he could see Ah-Li’s worth, but he also longed for the world to acknowledge her and wouldn’t tolerate any disdain aimed at her. Besides, the current Mo Xiuyao was not the same Prince Ding who was gravely injured, disfigured, and barely clinging to life years ago. Having been married to Ye Li for ten years, there was naturally no more doubt about their feelings for each other. He was confident that no one in this world was more deserving of Ah-Li than him; the occasional jealousy was merely a playful part of their relationship.

"My Ah-Li is indeed the most intelligent woman in this world; there’s no need for you to state the obvious," Mo Xiuyao said, raising an eyebrow.

Ye Li shot him a helpless glance and fell silent. She was quite self-aware; in terms of cleverness, she was by no means the most intelligent. All she relied on was her extra lifetime of experiences, which were entirely different from those of the people in this world.

Seeing the veiled threat in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes, Tan Jizhi couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Even if he had the courage of a lion, he would never dare to covet Princess Consort Ding, would he? Perhaps in the past, he might have entertained such thoughts, but after being tormented by Mo Xiuyao for the past two years, not even a sliver of such an idea remained. Everyone knew that Prince Ding valued his Princess Consort more than his own life. Who would dare provoke her, with the vengeful spirits of the Xiling Royal Capital and Ren Qining serving as clear precedents? Furthermore, the Princess Consort herself was no pushover. Anyone without real ability who tried to provoke her would only be seeking their own humiliation.

Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li stayed temporarily in Changqing City but didn’t rush to confront Ren Qining. They left these matters for Tan Jizhi to handle. The two of them, now with time on their hands, often strolled leisurely around the city.

「One day」

While the two were having a meal, the innkeeper came to report that the vanguard of the Northern Territory’s army had already set out for Zijing Pass and Ren Qining would personally lead the expedition in a few days.

Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows and chuckled, "He certainly is confident, completely unafraid of his own harem catching fire."

Ye Li laughed, "It seems the people of the Northern Territory, although stern by nature, are not incapable of putting on an act. Ren Qining probably thinks the men of the Northern Territory only have conflicts with the old ministers from the previous dynasty and has no idea they are planning to betray him."

Mo Xiuyao then said, "In Ren Qining’s view, the tribes of the Northern Territory are like a group of dragons without a leader; naturally, he couldn’t imagine Queen Helan possesses such abilities. Besides, the Northern Territory tribes have long been accustomed to governing themselves. An uprising was bound to happen sooner or later, even without Queen Helan secretly orchestrating it."

"Go and pass this news to General Leng Huai at Zijing Pass," Mo Xiuyao instructed.

Just as the innkeeper was about to leave, a commotion erupted downstairs. Seeing the two of them frown, the innkeeper quickly excused himself to check on the matter.

Mo Xiuyao grinned and said to Ye Li, "Ah-Li, let’s go take a look."

They left their room and, from the second floor, could clearly see a standoff in the lobby below between a few extravagantly dressed men from the Central Plains and several men who were clearly from the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory men were big and burly, with fierce expressions; they were obviously not people ordinary men could provoke. However, even though the Central Plains men looked as frail and fair as scholars, their presence was no less imposing, and they exchanged barbs as sharp as knives.

Being at a disadvantage in verbal confrontations, the Northern Territory men were inevitably infuriated, their faces turning red with rage. In a fit of anger, they prepared to strike. The Central Plains men, although physically weak, had numerous powerful bodyguards by their sides and thus were not afraid to fight back.

As expected, a disagreement quickly escalated into a brawl. The innkeeper, seemingly used to this, quickly tried to intervene but was pushed aside and promptly hid behind the counter. In less time than it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the inn’s lobby was in utter disarray.

The fighters were so engrossed that they didn’t notice Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao descending from upstairs. The innkeeper saw the two coming down and quickly led them to a more secluded corner, out of reach of the brawl.

Mo Xiuyao watched the ongoing fight in the lobby with curiosity and asked, chuckling, "You don’t seem worried at all?"

The innkeeper rubbed his forehead and gave a bitter smile. "There hasn’t been a day without a fight in Changqing City recently. In this small inn of mine, this is already the third time this month. As for the red-light districts, the situation is even worse... A fight breaks out whenever two different factions encounter each other. To tell you the truth, this inn is a hidden outpost set up by Prince Ding’s Mansion. Making a profit would be nice, but running at a loss doesn’t really matter. If this were an inn owned by ordinary folk, they would have packed up and left long ago. The so-called royal city of the Northern Territory is desolate. Besides the old officials from the previous dynasty and the elites of the Northern Territory tribes, ordinary people live in extreme poverty. There are few shops in the entire Changqing City, so my humble, not-so-luxurious inn often suffers the consequences."

Ye Li frowned. "Isn’t anyone going to do something about this?"

The innkeeper shook his head and sighed. "Who can manage them? Those who dare to fight in the city are all powerful dignitaries from the court. That Northern Territory man leading the fight is the youngest son of the leader of what was originally the second largest tribe; he’s a cousin of Queen Helan. Among those Central Plains men, one is the concubine’s son of the Prime Minister enfeoffed by the King of Northern Territory, and another is Consort Yun’s younger brother."

Mo Xiuyao stroked his chin, remarking thoughtfully, "Indeed, they are quite the characters."

As they spoke, the brawl began to drift their way. One of the Central Plains men was punched by a Northern Territory man and sent flying towards Ye Li. Mo Xiuyao let out a soft scoff, and with a flick of his sleeve, the man’s trajectory faltered, causing him to stumble to the side. Unexpectedly, upon getting up, rather than hurrying to confront his attacker, the man’s eyes fell upon Ye Li. He appeared transfixed, the haze in his eyes from drink and dissipation shifting into a lewd glint.

Although Ye Li had disguised her appearance, she maintained a refined and clear beauty, elegant and dignified. The young man, the son of a high official under Ren Qining, had spent many years in the Northern Territory seeing only the tall and robust women there. After returning to Great Chu and finding himself in the desolate Changqing City, he had never encountered a woman with an aura as exceptional as Ye Li’s. Not even Consort Yun, the most favored in the palace, could compare. Ignoring the fight he had been in, the young man stared lecherously at Ye Li’s beautiful face and asked with a smirk, "May I know this young lady’s name?"

Ye Li was slightly taken aback, finding it somewhat amusing. She had encountered many situations over the years, but this was indeed the first time she had been openly flirted with in public. With a chuckle, she asked, "And may I know this gentleman’s name?"

Seeing that Ye Li showed none of the shyness typical of other women, the young man roared with laughter. "This young master is the son of the current Prime Minister! My lady, why don’t you come and stay at the Prime Minister’s Mansion for a while? It would be much better than having a lady like you endure this shabby inn." The young man then glanced disparagingly at Mo Xiuyao, who was standing beside Ye Li.

The innkeeper, nearby, surreptitiously moved back. For over a year, the Prime Minister’s son had been a tyrant in Changqing City. This time, he was truly lighting a lamp in the latrine—courting death!

From the other side, a Northern Territory man, who had been fighting energetically, saw that his opponent had abandoned the fight to flirt with a woman. He roared in anger, "Coward! If you have any guts, come fight your grandpa for another three hundred rounds!"

"This young master isn’t going to bother with you Northern Territory barbarians today!" the Prime Minister’s son said haughtily. He could fight with these Northern Territory barbarians any day, but such a beauty wasn’t an everyday encounter.

The men from the Northern Territory, though not cunning or fond of indirectness, were much stronger in martial arts than these sickly scholars and noble sons. Their judgment in this regard was naturally much better; they could tell at a glance that the couple was not to be trifled with. Thus, they weren’t in a hurry to resume the fight and stood aside to watch the show. Seeing the Northern Territory men pause, the Prime Minister’s son grew even more smug.

Looking at the beautiful woman before him, whose gentle smile exuded an ethereal grace, the Prime Minister’s son felt an unbearable itch in his heart. He reached out to grab Ye Li’s hand, but unexpectedly, another hand shot out and clamped down on his wrist. The Prime Minister’s son, stunned, looked up at Mo Xiuyao, who had been silent all this while, and demanded, "Who are you? Release this young master at once!"

The corner of Mo Xiuyao’s mouth curled into an icy smile. With a slight squeeze, the Prime Minister’s son let out a shriek like a pig being slaughtered, startling the onlookers.

"How dare you! Do you know who I am?" The Prime Minister’s son’s face was pale, and sweat poured down like rain. This man in green had barely tightened his grip, and his hand... He could clearly feel that the bones in his hand were shattered. Even if Hua Tuo, the miracle doctor, were alive, he probably couldn’t fix it.

"Yes, the Prime Minister’s son, isn’t it?" Mo Xiuyao said with a light smile. He signaled the innkeeper, who understood immediately and ordered the waiters, who had previously been trembling in the corners, to go to the entrance and close the inn’s main door. It was strange; Changqing City was too desolate. If this had happened in another city, there would undoubtedly be onlookers. But in this city, the common people couldn’t even afford to eat, let alone spare money for inns and restaurants. This inn was located near the residences of dignitaries, so there was little foot traffic. Even those who happened to see the young dignitaries brawling would have long since fled. Now, with this group locked inside the inn, no one outside noticed. Occasionally, someone passing by merely assumed the innkeeper had closed up for some reason.

"What do you all want to do?" As the door closed, the others also sensed that something was wrong. A few of the Northern Territory men tried to use their agility to break free, but the seemingly inconspicuous waiters were all well-trained and easily thwarted their attempts.

"Who... who exactly are you?" the Prime Minister’s son asked, his face as pale as paper, his voice trembling.

Mo Xiuyao casually tossed him aside, saying indifferently, "So, these are the descendants of the old ministers of the former dynasty who now serve Ren Qining? Just a bunch of good-for-nothings?"

"You... you dare! To speak His Majesty’s name so disrespectfully!"

Mo Xiuyao scoffed disdainfully, "What’s wrong with calling him by his name? This prince has even killed his entire family."

"You!" At this, the expressions of everyone present changed. Could anyone present still not guess his identity after he’d said that much? "You... You are Prince Ding?!" Mo Xiuyao’s reputation over the years was hardly pleasant, so it was no wonder these people were terrified now that they knew who he was.

Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "You don’t need to be afraid. We won’t kill people indiscriminately."

"You... You are Princess Consort Ding?" the Prime Minister’s son stammered.

Ye Li smiled enchantingly. "Yes, I am indeed Ye Li."

"Prince Ding, Princess Consort Ding. We didn’t offend you two." A few of the Northern Territory men exchanged glances. The one who had been leading them stepped forward cautiously and spoke. Even if the people of the Northern Territory were considered barbarians, they still feared death. Even they had long heard of Mo Xiuyao’s reputation, which was comparable to that of a god of slaughter.

Ye Li laughed and said, "Are you Queen Helan’s cousin? Could you please inform her that an old acquaintance wishes to see her?"

This young man was indeed the son of a Northern Territory tribal leader, naturally possessing some cunning and aware of many matters. Upon hearing Ye Li’s words, his expression changed slightly. He nodded and said, "I will certainly convey the message. May we leave now?"

Ye Li nodded. "You may all go as you please."

Seeing the Northern Territory men leave safely, the few young aristocrats from the Central Plains hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to try and negotiate with Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. "Prince, Princess Consort, we..."

Ye Li said, "As for you all... I’m afraid we’ll have to ask you to wait here for a while."

Their expressions changed, and one of them retorted, "Princess Consort Ding, no matter how powerful you are, this is still the territory of the Northern Territory!"

Mo Xiuyao sneered, "So what if this prince wants to detain you? What can you do about it?"

The speaker was instantly deflated. If Prince Ding wanted to detain them, what could they possibly do?

"Are you not afraid of people from the court coming to find you?"

Mo Xiuyao said, "Isn’t Ren Qining busy preparing for an expedition right now? Would he have time to search for a few missing profligates?"

Ren Qining’s alliance with Yelv Ye was crucial for the Northern Territory. At this moment, nothing, not even a major incident, would prevent Ren Qining from dispatching his troops, let alone the disappearance of a few ignorant and unskilled young men.

"My father will definitely send people to save me!" the Prime Minister’s son shivered, his face twisted in pain from his injured wrist.

Mo Xiuyao smiled. "You won’t need your father to save you. This prince will have someone send you back. Men, take him to Tan Jizhi; he knows what to do. As for the others, lock them up for the time being."

"This subordinate obeys." The innkeeper stepped forward, grabbed the Prime Minister’s son, and headed towards the back courtyard. The others were also led away, and the previously chaotic and debris-strewn inn instantly became silent.

Ye Li smiled at Mo Xiuyao and said, "You plan to use these few individuals to instigate conflict between the Northern Territory people and the former court officials. Will it work?"

Mo Xiuyao smiled chillingly. "We’ll know if it works by trying."