129. Xiling sends troops (1)

  129. Xiling sends troops (1)

  In the study, it was quiet as if a needle falling could be heard. Ye Li silently looked at the middle-aged man sitting in front of her, her elegant face calm and expressionless, yet unable to stop the shockwaves rising in her heart from what she had just heard. Mo Xiwen died young due to illness, many people could guess that there must be some secrets unknown to outsiders, but even Ye Li did not expect Mo Xiwen's death to be related to someone in the palace. At that time, when Mo Xiwen passed away and the Mo family army was defeated, the current emperor had only been on the throne for three years, yet he took action against the Ding Wangfu so hastily...

  "What else does the princess want to know?" Mu Jing Cang looked at Ye Li with a smile that was not quite a smile, his expression filled with a hint of schadenfreude.

  "Everything."

  Mo Cheng Cang stared at Ye Li, "Everything? Are you sure, Princess? You should know that the secret involved is enough to affect the entire Da Chu and even the entire world."

  Ye Li smiled coldly and said, "Although I have never seen the previous Emperor, he is also my husband's older brother and my own older brother. Moreover... you fell into my hands, do you think I wouldn't know this secret just because others don't tell me?"

  Mo Cheng was silent for a moment, then sighed softly: "Ding Wang is really lucky. Since the princess insists, I will tell the princess everything, and consider it as repaying the princess's kindness to me."

  Ye Li and Mu Qingcang sat in the study for an entire morning, with no one knowing what they had discussed. When they came out of the study, both of their expressions were somewhat solemn. Mu Qingcang was escorted away by two dark guards, but just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned his head and smiled at Ye Li, saying: "I've figured it out that Your Highness is a decisive person, why not give you another piece of information for free?" Ye Li replied calmly: "I'm all ears."

  "Xiling has already decided to send troops to Great Chu on August 15th, what does the princess plan to do?" After finishing speaking, he didn't even look at Ye Li's expression, and Mu Jingcang suddenly changed from his previous depression and gloominess, and laughed wildly as he left.

  Ye Li's smile on the edge of her lips gradually faded away, gazing at the sky above the courtyard for a long time. Ye Li turned around and swept her sleeves, "Tell Feng San and Sun Yan to come to the study immediately!"

  Feng Zhiyao and Sun Yan arrived quickly, both feeling that they had almost arrived at the same time. As soon as they entered the study, they saw Ye Li and Zhuo Jing sitting behind the desk flipping through thick stacks of documents. Feng Zhiyao glanced over casually, those were the confessions of the assassins caught in recent days and various messages collected by the dark guards. Raising an eyebrow, Feng Zhiyao smiled: "Princess, what's going on?" Ye Li looked up at him and said: "Indeed, something has happened."

  Feng Zhiyao was taken aback, and his originally relaxed posture slowly straightened up, his expression solemn as he gazed at Ye Li. Sun Yan also looked serious, listening intently. Ye Li picked up a scroll and said, "Just now, Mu Qingtian told me that Xiling is planning to go to war with Da Chu on August 15th." Feng Zhiyao's face flashed with surprise, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed, "Is this information reliable? We haven't received any news about this." Ye Li shook his head and said, "I don't know, Mu Qingtian shouldn't be lying, but the authenticity of this message needs to be verified. However..." Ye Li's tone paused, and he looked up at the two people in front of him and asked, "What day is today?" Sun Yan replied, "August 7th."

  Feng Zhiyao's face changed, and he stood up saying: "If this news is false, then it doesn't matter. But if it's true..." If it's true, the northwest army may not be weak, but many important positions have been held by Mo Jingqi's trusted followers in recent years, and the Mo family army has been restricted everywhere. If Xiling suddenly rises up and attacks, they will definitely be caught off guard. And now, since they are in the capital city, it is impossible for them to rush back to the border to provide support within seven or eight days. Feng Zhiyao thoughtfully said: "The king has left the capital for more than 20 days, and according to the speed of the wedding procession, he should have already entered the Beijun territory by now. Not to mention that the king bears the heavy responsibility of sending off the bride, even if nothing happens, it will take at least half a month for him to rush back to the Xiling border to preside over the situation. Moreover, the king cannot possibly receive the news immediately." Feng Zhiyao suddenly felt a sense of unease in his heart, as if the whole thing was a trap specifically aimed at the Great Chu.

  "Your Highness..."

  Ye Li furrowed her brow and said: "What are your opinions? Just speak your mind."

  Sun Yan's face turned serious as he said: "Regardless of whether it's true or false, we must make preparations in advance. If it's false, then there's no problem, but if it's true..."

  Feng Zhiyao's face turned solemn, and she furrowed her brow, saying: "I think this news is very likely to be true, but the Dark Guards didn't receive any message at all."

  Ye Li said faintly: "You forgot, there is one person who can be said to be the top master in the intelligence aspect. And now, he is in Xiling."

  "Han Mingyue!" Feng Zhiyao exclaimed in shock.

  Ye Li nodded slightly, "Although Tianyi Pavilion's power in Great Chu has been reorganized by Han Mingxi, don't forget that Han Mingyue is the true master of Tianyi Pavilion. Moreover, Tianyi Pavilion is spread across various countries, and only Great Chu was affected, while Han Mingyue was once a good friend of the King. He is one of the people who understands the Dingwang Fu best, even if he's not the first, he must be among the top three."

  Feng Zhi nodded and said: "I will immediately send someone to investigate!"

  Sun Yan asked: "Your Highness, what should we do now?"

  Ye Li lowered her head and thought for a moment before saying: "Immediately send someone to inform the King, and also... notify the Mo Family Army stationed near the Xiling border to be prepared to provide support at any time."

  Sun Yan looked somewhat troubled and said: "In recent years, the Mo Family Army's garrison has been shrinking, and now they are at least five or six days' journey away from the Xiling border. Adding the time it takes for us to send a message... I'm afraid..."

  Ye Li raised her hand and said: "Regardless of whether they can arrive on time or not, if they can't, then block the direction of the Xiling army's advance."

  Sun Yan nodded and said: "I understand, I will immediately send a message to the Mo Family Army. Please don't worry, Your Highness, as long as the Mo Family Army has one soldier left, the people of Xiling won't be able to cross their defense line."

  Ye Li nodded and softly said: "Thank you, General Sun. I will go to the palace to see the Emperor now."

  "The princess, this is probably not suitable." Feng Zhiyao frowned. Since catching Mu Qingcang, although it was not explicitly stated, those who attempted to massacre the Ding Wangfu still had a general idea of who they were in their hearts.

  Ye Li smiled shallowly: "There's nothing wrong with that. Even if the one in the palace dared to defy the world and lay hands on me, he may not have the ability to keep me." Feng Zhiyao thought of that mysterious and unpredictable group of people, felt slightly at ease, and said: "As long as the princess has a plan, it's fine." Ye Li stood up, put down the scroll in her hand, and said: "Go and take care of things. Also, the Wang Fu will continue to be on full alert."

  "Yes."

  Palace

  In the study, Mo Jingqi dismissed the hastily arriving Marquis of Muyang, his face gloomy and unpredictable as he stared at the memorial in front of him with an enigmatic gaze.

  "Your Majesty, the Queen of Dingguo requests an audience." The eunuch outside the door reported. Mo Jingqi furrowed his brow, "The Queen of Dingguo? How did she come back?" He recalled the dawn a few days ago, the white-clad woman standing on the blood-soaked steps outside the palace of Dingguo, and Mo Jingqi's heart was filled with a sense of loss and regret. This woman was the one he had personally pointed out to Mo Xiuyao, in order to humiliate him. But now this woman had become another pillar of the Dingguo Palace and Mo Xiuyao's greatest help, and at the same time, she had also become someone he had to eliminate. With Ye Liri's intelligence, since she had already found her way to the Murong Marquis Manor, Mo Jingqi did not believe that she would not be able to guess the truth of the matter. But why was she still daring to enter the palace now?

  "Declaration."

  Before long, the large gate was pushed open again and Ye Li walked in wearing a silver-white dark silver silk dress with a phoenix pattern, formal attire of the King of Ting. This was almost the first time Ye Li wore the formal attire of the King of Ting, different from the elegant and refined feeling she usually gave people, the silver-white color made her appear several points more icy and unapproachable. Ye Li walked to the center of the hall, curtsied slightly and said: "Ye Li has seen Your Majesty."

  Mo Jingqi looked at Ye Li for a long time before speaking: "Come to think of it, I've never heard the Empress Dowager refer to herself as 'I'."

  Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "I am Ye Li." She knew that in front of the Emperor, Empress, and Dowager Empress, all women referred to themselves as "min qie", but she didn't like this self-reference. In the past, the Emperor, Empress, and Dowager Empress had never mentioned it, so others naturally didn't dare to pick on her about such a small matter, and it was ignored. Unexpectedly, Mo Jing Qi brought it up today for no reason.

  Mo Jingqi's eyes flickered slightly, and he quickly laughed: "A good one, Ye Li is indeed Ye Li. Is that person in the heart of Ding Wangfei not considering himself a subject of Da Chu?"

  Ye Li raised her head, her gaze directly meeting Mo Jing Qi's without evasion, and said in a soft voice: "The Dingguo King's Manor has been guarding the Great Chu for generations, with utmost loyalty. As Ye Li, the Queen of Dingguo, how could I possibly harbor such treacherous intentions?"

  Mo Jingqi looked at her with a playful expression and smiled: "Oh? The princess's meaning is that the Dingguo King's Mansion will absolutely not have any disloyal intentions?"

  Looking at Mo Jingqi's inquiring eyes, Ye Lixi sneered inwardly and said firmly: "The Dingguo Wangfu will absolutely not do anything to betray Da Chu?"

  Upon hearing this, Mo Jing Qi fell silent for a long time before finally saying: "Alright, I believe Queen Ding's words. Queen Ding has specially come to the palace today, is there something on your mind?"

  Ye Li nodded and said: "Indeed, there is a very important matter to report to Your Majesty."

  Mo Jing Qi nodded, "Let the princess speak as she pleases."

  Ye Li said in a low voice: "Ye Li has just received news that Xiling will send troops to Da Chu on August 15, please Your Majesty make early preparations."

  Mo Jing Qi was taken aback, and it took him a long time to laugh out loud. He looked at Ye Li and said: "The news of the Crown Princess is too sudden? As far as I know, Xiling is mainly dealing with Beirong now, not Dachu. Who did you hear this news from?"

  Ye Li pursed her lips and slightly furrowed her brow, saying: "I hope Your Majesty can dispatch troops to provide support as soon as possible, just in case."

  "We cannot possibly mobilize troops based on just a few words from the princess, unless she can prove the authenticity of this information."

  Ye Li furrowed her brow and said lightly: "Mu Qingcang."