123. Uneasy

Outside the palace gate, Princess Ronghua, wearing a red wedding dress with phoenixes and peonies, bid farewell to the Queen Mother and the Emperor and Empress with tears in her eyes. Princess Zhaoren, who used to be extremely proud, finally couldn't help shedding tears when she saw her only daughter marrying far away to the Northern Rong. She couldn't say anything when she saw her daughter who was about to leave. Now it was the Queen Mother and the Emperor and Empress who came together to bid farewell to the princess, and even as her biological mother, she couldn't hold Princess Ronghua back any more.

Princess Ronghua bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and her parents one by one, and was helped by the palace maids who accompanied her as a dowry to walk to the carriage. Before getting on the carriage, she turned her head and looked in the direction of Ye Li, who nodded gently and smiled at her. Princess Ronghua lowered her eyes and smiled indifferently, then resolutely turned around and stepped onto the carriage. On the magnificently decorated carriage, the peony curtain embroidered with the princess' noble status fell gently, covering Princess Ronghua's gorgeous face and figure. From now on, she will live in a foreign country as a princess of Da Chu, and perhaps she will never see her parents and relatives again...

"Ali, I'm leaving. Be careful in the capital." Standing beside Ye Li, Mo Xiuyao whispered.

Ye Li looked up at the elegant man in front of her, who was dressed in dark blue and embroidered with a silver dragon prince's servant. She nodded gently and said, "I know, you should be careful too. Come back soon." Mo Xiuyao nodded, "I will be careful. Ah Li is alone in the capital..." Ye Li interrupted him and said firmly, "I will guard the Ding Prince's Mansion well and wait for you to come back."

Mo Xiuyao was startled and whispered, "As long as Ah Li is safe and sound, Xiuyao will be very happy."

The attendants on the side came over cautiously and urged them to set off, muttering in their hearts that it was said that Prince Ding and Princess Ding had a good relationship, and now it seems that they are really inseparable.

Ye Li took a step back and left Mo Xiuyao's arms. She turned her head to Lin Han who was standing beside her and said, "Lin Han, the safety of the prince is in your hands."

Lin Han nodded and said seriously: "Please rest assured, Princess. I will never let you down."

Ye Li nodded, said take care to Mo Xiuyao, and then retreated into the crowd of people who were seeing him off. Mo Xiuyao turned his head to look at her, pulled the white horse beside him, jumped on the horse, and caught up with the team that had already set off.

Princess Zhaoren finally fell to the ground in tears when the whole marriage team disappeared in the distance. Princess Zhaoyang ordered someone to help her back to the princess's residence. The emperor and empress also accompanied the queen mother back to the palace. The originally noisy palace gate suddenly became much quieter. Ye Li stood there and looked at the place where Mo Xiuyao left in silence. "Princess, the prince has left the city. We should go back." Chief Steward Mo walked up to Ye Li and whispered. Ye Li nodded and said, "Let's go back." The capital city, where Mo Xiuyao was suddenly absent, seemed a little lonely and boring.

Prince Ding left the capital, and the Dingguo Palace closed its doors to visitors as usual. But only the people in the Dingguo Palace knew that in just ten days, the Dingguo Palace had been attacked several times more than in the past few years.

Late at night, another wave of attacks ended. Ye Li sat in a chair under the eaves and looked at the kneeling black-clothed men in the yard with a gloomy face. On the left and right stood Zhuo Jing, Qin Fengmo, the chief steward Feng Zhiyao, Mo Hua, and Zhang Qilan and Han Mingxi who were stationed in the palace because Prince Ding was away from Beijing. Except for Feng Zhiyao who was laughing and laughing as usual, the expressions on the faces of others were not very good. Tonight, the assassin actually broke through the outer perimeter of Prince Dingguo's palace and almost broke into the main courtyard where Ye Li lived. As the leader of the dark guards, Mo Hua's face was even uglier. This was simply a slap in the face of the dark guards.

"Okay, tell me, where is this person from?" Ye Li looked at the gloomy faces of his subordinates and asked lightly.

The assassin who was forced to kneel in the yard had a flash of disdain in his eyes and turned his head away proudly. Ye Li laughed, "I spoke out of turn. If I don't ask you guys properly, you won't confess. But it just so happens that... in the past ten days, seven groups of people have come to my place, and maybe some of your partners are among them. But none of them are strong enough to fight me to the death. Qin Feng, I leave it to you."

Qin Feng laughed loudly and said, "Thank you, Princess. It just so happens that the boys under my command are learning torture. They have made rapid progress in the past few days. I have to thank so many people for their contributions." Feng Zhiyao, who was standing aside, sneered and pretended to be disdainful, but his eyes were already looking at Qin Feng eagerly, "This young master asks to watch." He Feng Zhiyao was known as the most powerful criminal interrogation expert in Dingguo Palace, but after Qin Feng brought back a few boys, he realized that there are always people better than you, and that the back waves push the front waves. Moreover, this criminal interrogation expert is mass-produced. Qin Feng looked at him with a fake smile and said, "It is purely confidential. Outsiders stay away." With a wave of his hand, someone came over and suppressed the people in the yard.

Feng Zhiyao glared at Qin Feng who was walking away with a carefree manner, and turned around to look at Ye Li eagerly. There was no other way. Since Qin Feng followed the princess, no one could speak in front of him except the prince and princess. Ye Li smiled and said, "Feng San, Qin Feng is not deliberately making things difficult for you. This is really a secret." Feng Zhiyao snorted and said, "It's just an interrogation. Even if there are some unique methods, it can't be called a secret." Ye Li smiled and said, "The person being interrogated is still a secret at the moment."

Feng San rubbed his nose and stopped talking. He was one of Mo Xiuyao's most trusted people, so he naturally knew that the princess had a secret team composed of people selected from various armies under the Dingguo Palace. No one knew what the princess wanted these people to do, and even the prince didn't know what happened to these people after they were selected by the princess. Now... are these the people? Feng Zhiyao thought of the few people Qin Feng brought back a few days ago to accept their interrogation mission. He just took a quick look and there seemed to be nothing unusual, but Feng Zhiyao's vigilance cultivated in the battlefield and in secret for so many years made him feel that these people were indeed not simple.

Ye Li stood up and smiled at everyone, "Thank you all for your hard work tonight. Let's sit in the study."

Zhang Qilan said with an unpleasant expression: "Your Highness has just left and these people attacked Prince Ding's Mansion. Are they just going to let it go?" Ye Li smiled and said: "General Zhang, don't worry. It is impossible for us to let it go. I...also need some people to practice with." The gentle tone brought out a chilling murderous intent. Everyone was shocked and followed Ye Li to the study.

After returning to the study, they sat down. Ye Li said to Han Mingxi, who was sitting next to her, "It's time to deal with the things in Xiling and Nanjiang. Mingxi, you should leave Beijing tomorrow." Hearing this, Han Mingxi frowned and wanted to say something. Ye Li shook her head and said, "No need to say more. You have seen the situation in Beijing. There is nothing for you to do if you stay. You might as well leave early. My eldest brother should still be in Yongzhou. If you are undecided, you can take my token to ask him." Han Mingxi glanced at her calmly, sighed and said, "I know. I will leave tomorrow. I will go back to pack my luggage first."

Ye Li didn't keep him and just nodded.

As soon as Han Mingxi left, the atmosphere in the study immediately became warmer. It was not that the people in Prince Ding's Mansion did not trust Han Mingxi and were wary of him, but they all had a pair of shrewd eyes that could see through the world. Even if Han Mingxi's thoughts were secretive, how could he hide them from these people? What's more, these people were loyal to Mo Xiuyao. Even if they knew that there was nothing between the princess and Han Mingxi, they would inevitably be a little cold to Han Mingxi in the eyes of these loyal ministers to Prince Ding's Mansion.

Ye Li seemed to be unaware of the expressions of the crowd, and she spoke calmly about the things in the palace. Everyone was a little worried about the safety of Prince Ding's palace, and Chief Steward Mo asked, "Princess, should we send more secret guards into the palace?" Prince Ding's palace had been attacked continuously in recent days, and the guards and secret guards were probably exhausted. Today, assassins broke into the princess's residence. Ye Li smiled and said, "Don't bother so much. They have worked so hard to sneak into the capital, and they are willing to risk their lives to break into the Prince Ding's palace, which is known to the world as impregnable. We should at least see what they want to do. Starting from tomorrow, catch fewer assassins. Let a few go back."

Feng Zhiyao's eyes flickered, and he smiled and said, "Does the princess want to...let them know that the defense of Prince Dingguo's Palace is gradually failing? Will they believe it?"

Ye Li smiled and said, "Since they know they can't get in but still keep coming in waves, I'll give them a chance. If it's you, do you believe it?"

Zhang Qilan said worriedly, "If this news gets out, I'm afraid the palace will become even more uneasy."

Ye Li smiled coldly and said calmly: "I will let the world know that Prince Dingguo's Mansion is not only impregnable, but also a hell on earth from which there is no return!"

Everyone was shocked and stared at the gentle and beautiful woman in green in front of them, speechless for a long time.

"Princess." Qin Feng pushed the door open and came in with a strange look on his face. Ye Li raised her eyebrows and asked without surprise, "Didn't you find out?"

Qin Feng said with a hint of annoyance: "One committed suicide, and the others were just minions who knew nothing."

Ye Li shook her head and said, "No, the one who died was not the leader."

Qin Feng looked at Ye Li in confusion. Ye Li said calmly, "It's impossible for him not to know how severe the torture is in Prince Ding's Mansion. If he really wanted to die, he would have committed suicide when he was caught. In terms of experience, you are still not as good as Feng San." Feng Zhiyao looked at Qin Feng proudly and smiled, "Yes, at least in my hands, this kind of prisoner will never commit suicide." Qin Feng didn't care at this time. Feng Zhiyao provoked him, and Jian's eyebrows furrowed as he asked, "Princess, do you mean that the one who committed suicide was just to cover up the real leader?" Ye Li held up her chin and said, "At least half of the time. Of course, it is also possible that he was really frightened by your methods and happened to fall into the hands of a few inexperienced rookies and took advantage of the opportunity to commit suicide. But... your methods should not have reached that level yet, right?"

Qin Feng said with some distress: "Those guys just learned this and they don't know how to control their strength. If they really kill him..."

Ye Li lowered her eyes and said softly, "We have plenty of time now, let's try a different approach and take it slow."

"Change it?"

Ye Li said: "Boil the eagle."

"Boil the eagle?"

Ye Li played with the white porcelain cup in her hand and whispered, "Light up the cell for me until it's as bright as day. Stop torturing them. The people in the cell take turns watching them, changing shifts every hour. Just one thing, don't let me see anyone fall asleep, until they are willing to tell the truth." Feng Zhiyao said in confusion, "Just not sleeping, will it work?"

Ye Li smiled and said, "Mr. Feng may have tried not sleeping for one or two days, but has he ever tried not sleeping for four or five days? This method can make even the most proud eagle obedient, let alone a human."

Although Feng Zhiyao had doubts about Ye Li's statement, Qin Feng accepted it without hesitation and immediately turned around to give the order.

Feng Zhiyao turned around and looked at Ye Li and said, "What do you think of these assassins these days, Princess?"

Ye Li turned around and saw Zhuo Jing handing her a file. Ye Li took it and opened it, saying, "There are all kinds of people who broke into the mansion these days. Some were hired to kill people, some came to seek revenge, and some came to take advantage of the situation to rob."

"Taking advantage of someone's misfortune? Who has the guts to take advantage of someone's misfortune to rob Prince Ding's mansion?" Mo Hua, who usually seldom spoke, said sarcastically.

Feng Zhiyao smiled and said, "Whether it is really taking advantage of the fire or not, no one knows. However, in just a few days, so many lawless people suddenly appeared in the capital. Are the people stationed in the capital and the governor of the capital all gone to eat dry food?" Chief Steward Mo said in a deep voice, "The Dingguo Palace has been attacked repeatedly. Even if the Dingguo Palace is huge and there are not many mansions around it, the person in the palace must not be unaware of it. But for so many days, the palace has not sent anyone to ask, as if nothing happened at all." Ye Li rubbed her heart and smiled, "The person in the palace probably wants to know the strength of the Dingguo Palace. Feng San, spread the news tomorrow. This concubine has been frightened for days and is not feeling well."

"Scared?" Feng Zhiyao looked at Ye Li's smiling face with a strange look. It is still debatable whether the one who was scared these days was Princess Ding or those unlucky assassins. Ye Li glanced at him, "Why? I can't be scared? I am still a woman after all, and the prince is not around. What if I am scared by the assassins coming to my door every day?"

Feng Zhiyao touched his nose and said respectfully, "No, the princess was too frightened and her body was out of harmony."

Ye Li snorted and said, "Very good, let them be happy for a few days. I will not see anyone if I am frightened. That's it."

Chief Steward Mo hesitated for a moment and asked, "If the palace summons you..."

Ye Li smiled and said, "She is seriously ill and cannot enter the palace. Just take her in with the imperial physician and the reward sent by the palace. Don't agree to anything else."

"I understand, old servant." Manager Mo nodded.

After sending everyone away, Ye Li left the study alone and walked towards the bedroom. She raised her head and glanced at the nearly full moon. She sighed with some worry, then turned her head and said to somewhere in the darkness, "Why are you following me?"

Mo Hua's somewhat stiff voice came from the darkness, "The prince said he would protect the princess's safety."

Ye Li smiled faintly, ignored him and turned back to her room. When she was far away from Mo Hua, she stepped out of the shadows and exposed herself to the moonlight. There was still obvious anger and frustration in her eyes. Was he not even as good at hiding as the princess?