Xiling sends troops (2)

  130. Xiling sends troops (2)

  Upon hearing this, Mo Jingqi's face changed several times before he finally calmed down, staring at the woman standing calmly below with a complex expression. For a moment, he couldn't figure out what Ye Li meant by revealing her hand so quickly. If it was said that the Dingguo King's mansion wanted to turn against him now, he wouldn't believe it. Not only is Mo Xiuyao not here, but even if Mo Xiuyao were in the capital, the Dingguo King's mansion would not suddenly do something detrimental to Da Chu. However, if Ye Li really just wanted to provide some military information, she didn't need to mention the matter of Mu Chengcang so openly. The Dingguo King's mansion has many sources of information; couldn't they find a suitable excuse to cover it up?

  After a long time, Mo Jingqi calmly said: "I have an idea about what Queen Ding Wang said."

  Ye Li looked up at the man sitting on the high throne, slightly furrowing her brow. Mo Jingqi, however, did not give her another chance to speak, standing up and waving his hand: "This matter I am aware of, Queen Ding can return first."

  Ye Li sighed slightly in her heart and bowed lightly: "Ye Li bids farewell."

  As she left the imperial study, Ye Li was about to leave the palace and return to her residence when she was stopped by two familiar-looking palace maids who stood in front of her and said, "Your Highness, the Noble Consort has summoned you." Ye Li only needed to recall for a moment before remembering that these two palace maids were actually the personal attendants of Liu Gui Fei. Recalling what she had overheard in the peach forest last time and every time Liu Gui Fei saw her with an eerie gaze, Ye Li's heart felt uneasy, and she replied indifferently, "I have matters to attend to, please convey my apologies to the Noble Consort on my behalf." The two palace maids looked at each other but did not step aside, insisting, "Your Highness, please forgive us, but the Noble Consort has important matters she wishes to discuss with you."

  Ye Li gave a faint glance at the palace maid who was speaking and raised an eyebrow, saying: "Oh? If it's really me, then what should I do if I don't have time?"

  "This... then please forgive us for our offense." The two took a step forward, their footsteps steady, with a sharp glint in their eyes, clearly both were practitioners.

  Ye Li slightly raised her hand, signaling the dark guards around her not to reveal themselves. She furrowed her brow and looked at the two palace maids behind them, coldly smiling as she said: "The Noble Consort has quite a big temper, daring to make a move against me outside the Imperial Study?"

  "If you had come to chat with me in good faith, why would I have to take action against you?" The voice of Liu Gui Fei was still as calm and cold as snow, but Ye Li couldn't help but think of the sorrowful and mournful voice that also came from the peach forest. Although Liu Gui Fei's unrequited love for Mo Xiu Yao was pitiful, Ye Li, as Mo Xiu Yao's wife, didn't feel much sympathy for her. So when she saw Liu Gui Fei come out, she only said indifferently: "No matter what you want to talk about, have you considered the consequences of having someone take action against me in the palace?"

  The beautiful lips of Liu Guifei curled up with a hint of disdain, "Consequences? Do you think the Emperor would care about how he treats you just because of your status? In the past, others gave in to you only because of Ding Wang's relationship. Now that Ding Wang is not in the capital, do you think relying on the title of Ding Wangfei can be of any use?" Ye Li looked silently at the stunning woman who was gazing at her with disdain, from their first meeting she had felt Liu Guifei's contempt and scorn for her, probably in Liu Guifei's heart, no one except herself was worthy of Mo Xiu Yao... unfortunately, Mo Xiu Yao also had his eyes on her...

  "In that case, there's no harm in saying it directly here, Your Highness." Yelü furrowed her brow and said.

  Liu Guifei's delicate chin was slightly raised, staring at Ye Lian: "Follow me."

  Ye Li smiled faintly and turned around to walk out of the palace gate.

  "Yelü!" Princess Liu shouted sternly, seeing Yelü turn around and leave without hesitation. She was somewhat flustered and ordered: "Stop her for this palace!"

  Two palace maids immediately stepped forward, one on the left and one on the right, blocking Ye Li in front of her. A cold glint flashed through Ye Li's eyes, and a cold light slashed down from her sleeve, the silver-white hem of her garment drawing a dazzling arc in the sunlight, simultaneously bringing out two beautiful blood flowers.

  "Oh no...!"

  Two shrill cries rang out, and two palace maids held their wrists with pale faces and terrified expressions as they stared at the silver-robed woman in front of them. The bright red blood instantly stained the pink wide sleeves. Ye Li raised the dagger in her hand and looked at it, the bright red blood flowing down the snowy blade and slowly dripping into the mud on the ground. Liu Guifei's normally cold and icy face finally changed color, although she was not a top-notch expert, but among women, she was considered one of the best. Even so, she didn't even see how Ye Li made her move. She stared at Ye Li in front of her, but Liu Guifei didn't say a word for a long time.

  Ye Li calmly stared at Liu Guifei, without any intention of apologizing or explaining for her actions that hurt others. The two palace maids held their wrists and looked at Ye Li with eyes full of terror and fear.

  "Yeli! You're...!" The face of Liu Guifei turned pale with rage as she glared at Yeli with hatred.

  Ye Li gave her a faint glance, turned around and walked out of the palace. The two palace maids who were originally standing in front of her hastily retreated to both sides, afraid of blocking the path of the female star in front of them and having one hand disabled again.

  As soon as they left the palace gate, Feng Zhiyao and others were staring at the palace gate. Seeing Ye Li's face looking a bit unsightly, Feng Zhiyao asked with some concern: "Your Highness, what happened? Doesn't the Emperor believe us?" Ye Li waved her hand and said: "Nothing, whether the Emperor believes it or not will be clear tomorrow. Order the Ding Wang Fu to be on high alert at all times, if there is no movement in the palace tomorrow..." Feng Zhiyao's face changed slightly, and he said in a low voice: "Your Highness intends to mobilize the Mo family army? This would give the Emperor an excuse to deal with the Ding Wang Fu." Ye Li turned around and asked him: "If there is no excuse now, will the Emperor not deal with the Ding Wang Fu? Besides... if it's true, this time Xiling will definitely come with a strong momentum. If we're late, I'm afraid future battles won't be up to us. Don't worry, the troops near the capital can't be mobilized for the time being. The Emperor can't find an excuse even if he wants to. Zhuo Jing, tell Qin Feng to come back and see me."

  "It is," Zhuo Jing said in a low voice, "Intelligence hinting at this has just arrived. The troops on the western border of Xiling have been restless for over a month now. Mu Cheng Cang's news is likely true."

  Ye Li's eyes turned cold, "The prince is right, those useless people at the border should be replaced! Return to the mansion!"

  The next morning, the Emperor did not mention anything about Xiling sending troops.

  On the third day, there was still no news from the palace.

  On the fourth day after dawn, the emperor summoned a few trusted officials to the Imperial Study. However, there was still no news of troop movements or supplies.

  The atmosphere in the imperial palace grew heavier with the silence, Ye Li listened to the new day's morning court affairs in the study, feeling a bit tired, closed his eyes and said in a low voice: "Qin Feng."

  "Yes, I am under your command." Qin Feng replied in a deep voice.

  "The scheduled assessment has been cancelled, you will personally lead the team and set off tonight at full speed to the border."

  Qin Feng replied without hesitation: "Your subordinate obeys."

  Ye Li looked up at him and said, "I'm not asking you to lead people to the border to participate in the war. Even if your few men were able to hold off a hundred enemies, they wouldn't be able to withstand an army of 100,000. Split up and search the border areas for any news about Xiling and the war situation."

  Qin Feng nodded and said: "Understood."

  "Go."

  The war broke out faster than Ye Liri had imagined, because the date of Xiling's expedition was not on August 15th, but on August 9th. By the time it was August 15th, news of Xiling's invasion had already reached Chu Jing. And even more shocking news was that this time, it was led by King Town South of Xiling, who personally commanded an army of five million to attack Da Chu, vowing to avenge his defeat at the hands of Mo Liufang last year. The Xiling army had been secretly gathering strength for many years, and in one day, two cities fell, causing the entire Chu Jing to shake. As the mistress of the Dingguo King's mansion, Ye Liri was also urgently summoned by the emperor to discuss matters in the palace.

  After a few days, Ye Li re-entered the imperial study, but the situation was completely different from last time. As soon as he entered the imperial study, he clearly felt the heavy atmosphere in the room. Ye Li swept his eyes over the people in the imperial study: Liu Chengxiang, Mu Yanghou, Zhen Guo Jiangjun, Nan Hou, Nan Hou's son, Leng Jingyu, Hua Lao Guogong, and a young man who looked familiar but whom he didn't recognize. The young man was not wearing official robes, but rather stood by Mo Jingqi's desk in a plain white robe. Ye Li furrowed his brow, instinctively disliking this person. This person's sharp eyes were filled with thick calculation, which ruined what was originally a handsome face. Ye Li calmly lowered his gaze. Among the eight people in the room, Liu Chengxiang, Mu Yanghou, and Zhen Guo Jiangjun were all trusted officials of the emperor, Nan Hou had always been uninterested in worldly affairs, and Hua Lao Guogong, although close to the Ding Wangfu, was already old and had spent many years at home in retirement.

  "Yeli has met with the Emperor." Yeli bowed slightly.

  "We have seen the Queen of Jingguo." Everyone also bowed in unison.

  Mo Jing Qi waved her hand somewhat impatiently and said: "No need for formalities, Your Highness. Have you heard the urgent news from the border that arrived today?"

  Ye Li nodded, Mo Jing Qi furrowed his brow and said: "What are your opinions, everyone?"

  Hua Lao Guo Gong took a step forward and said, "Of course we will immediately dispatch troops to support and severely attack the Xiling bandits. We must make Xiling think that our Great Chu is not easy to bully!"

  Mo Jing Qi furrowed his brow and said, "The Old Duke also heard that Xiling is led by the King of Southern Town himself. Although the King of Southern Town was defeated by the Regent King back then, it was only a narrow margin. In Xiling, he has always been known as a god of war. Who do you think should lead the army?"

  Marquis Moyang and General Town looked at each other, both frowning involuntarily. Old Duke Hua hummed softly, stepped forward and said: "Although the old minister is old and decayed, he is willing to lead troops to conquer and show off the great power of our Chu State."

  As soon as this was said, the Marquis of Moyang and the General of Quelling the State could not help but change their expressions. Cold Yingyu and the son of the Southern Hou stepped forward from behind: "I am willing to lead troops on an expedition to spread the great prestige of our Chu state."

  Mo Jingqi looked at the two of them and smiled in satisfaction, saying: "The old Duke's words are too serious. The old Duke is over 70 years old and should be enjoying his later years in peace. If he still leads the army to war, wouldn't that make the men of Great Chu lose face? What do you all think?"

  "Long live the wise Emperor."