Mountain and River Festival 210. Envoys from the Three Kingdoms Arrive

Although Ye Ying and Ye Li have some family ties, Ye Li did not arrange Mo Jingli and his party in Dingwang Mansion, but in a separate courtyard specially set aside in Ruyang City. This place is specially prepared to receive dignitaries or envoys from various countries. Although the Mo family army has not had good relations with various countries, wars cannot be started just by saying so, and people cannot completely avoid communication, right? Although this separate courtyard is not as good as the separate and magnificent posthouses of various countries in Chujing, it was still pretty good at the time and large enough. Even if people from Dachu, Beirong and Xiling came, there was no need to worry about not being able to accommodate them.

Before Mo Jingli and his party could be arranged to stay, Chief Steward Mo came to report again: "Prince, Princess, the Xiling Zhennan King has arrived with his Zhennan Prince, and the Beirong King's Crown Prince has arrived with his Crown Princess and the Seventh Prince, and the Nanzhao Crown Princess has also arrived!"

Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li looked at each other. This time, the four countries all came together, and they all sent out very important tasks. This gave Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao enough face. Of course, it was not ruled out that there were intentions from the Great Chu and the Mo family army. Mo Xiuyao's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he stood up with a smile and pulled Ye Li and said with a smile: "It seems that there are really many distinguished guests today. Ah Li, let's go out to greet them." Ye Li smiled and nodded, and followed Mo Xiuyao out.

There was a great bustle outside the Dingwang Mansion. It was not known whether it was a coincidence or intentional, but the distinguished guests from the three kingdoms arrived at the Dingwang Mansion at the same time, so the Dingwang Mansion was surrounded by their carriages, attendants, and guards. However, with the imposing Heiyun riding outside the mansion as a guard, these people certainly could not even think of getting close to the Dingwang Mansion. The Dingwang Mansion's gate was opened from the inside, and Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li walked out hand in hand. In the sunlight, her snow-white hair flashed with a cold luster, and the people who had just come out of the carriage were stunned. They were all the most powerful people in each country, and they had naturally received the news of Mo Xiuyao's white hair a long time ago. But just like Mo Jingli, he couldn't hide his surprise when he saw the white-haired man in front of him. What's puzzling is that when the princess fell off the cliff and disappeared, Prince Ding was fine, but how come Prince Ding's hair turned white overnight after Princess Ding came back?

"You all have come from afar, I hope you will forgive me for being late in welcoming you." Mo Xiuyao glanced at everyone and said with an apologetic smile.

"How dare I? We are acquaintances of Prince Ding, so why should Prince Ding be so polite? Is this the Princess of Prince Ding? Today I see that she is indeed worthy of her reputation." The young man dressed in the royal attire of the Northern Rong was tall and straight, with the rugged and handsome appearance of the Northern Rong people, and he looked extraordinary. Standing next to him was the seventh prince of the Northern Rong, Yelu Ye, and the long-unseen Princess Ronghua, now the Crown Princess of the Northern Rong.

Princess Ronghua nodded and smiled at Ye Li. Her beautiful face was no longer as tender and pale as it was in Chujing before, and her face was now more rosy and healthy. It seemed that Princess Ronghua had lived well in Beirong for more than a year. The man who spoke was naturally the crown prince of Beirong, Yelu Hong. Ye Li smiled and said, "The crown prince of Beirong is too kind. I am ashamed to accept it. You have come from afar. Please come into the mansion for a cup of tea and then rest in the inn."

Yelu Hong looked at Ye Li in surprise and said with a smile, "Thank you, Princess."

Princess Anxi stepped forward and said with a loud laugh: "Princess Ding, I haven't seen you for a long time. How are you?" Ye Li felt a little embarrassed when she saw Princess Anxi's cheerful smile. She had deceived Princess Anxi more than once in Nanzhao. At this time, Princess Anxi could still talk to her in such a friendly manner. I don't know how much face Xu Qingchen had to take. Nodding and smiling, "Princess sister, how are you? It happens that my elder brother is also in Ruyang. The princess can talk to him about the past." As everyone knows, Princess Ding has no elder brother in her family. Who else can she call her elder brother? Ye Li was not afraid to tell everyone about Xu Qingchen's being in the northwest. She had never thought of letting the Xu family hide. Since she had to tell her earlier, it was okay to say it openly now. Sure enough, after hearing Xu Qingchen's news, Princess Anxi smiled even more happily and said, "Thank you very much, Princess Sister."

"Princess Ding, how are you?" Lei Tengfeng came forward to greet Xiling. Although all countries have some grudges against the Mohist Army, the most embarrassing one at the moment is Xiling. The two armies fought a war last year, and hundreds of thousands of Xiling troops were left in the northwest. Of course, the disappearance of the princess from the Mohist Army was even more serious. Therefore, even if both parties temporarily put aside their grievances and whitewashed the situation, they would still feel a little uncomfortable. Mo Xiuyao came forward and put one hand on Ye Li's slender waist, and smiled at Lei Tengfeng, "Thank you for your concern, Prince. Ye Li is very lucky." Lei Tengfeng was also helpless. Wasn't it him who caused Princess Ding to fall off the cliff? But it didn't seem to make any difference if it was his own father. Gan laughed twice and said, "Princess, you are very lucky to have turned misfortune into fortune."

Ye Li quietly patted the back of Mo Xiuyao's hand, and smiled at everyone, "It's rude for us to let you talk at the door. Please come in." Mo Xiuyao snorted lightly, glanced at the Zhennan King who was standing aside and looking at Ye Li, and then made way for everyone to enter the mansion. Only to hear the Zhennan King behind him said lightly, "It's been a year since we last met. The martial arts skills of the Ding King have become more and more profound. I wonder if we can learn from each other in our spare time?" In a place that no one could see, Mo Xiuyao smiled slyly, tilted his head slightly and said, "The King is always at your service."

"Princess Ding, I haven't seen you for a long time. Are you okay?" As if teasing Mo Xiuyao was not enough, the King of Zhennan turned his eyes to Ye Li and asked with a smile. Ye Li nodded lightly and said, "Thank you for your concern, King Zhennan. I am fine. But your injury... is not serious?" Mo Xiuyao noticed that he tightened his grip on her waist. Ye Li only hated in her heart why she didn't use a little more force and directly took his life?

The King of Zhennan seemed to have remembered the wound Ye Li had given him, and smiled with some regret: "The gift from the princess is truly something I will never forget."

Ye Li's eyes darkened, and she said calmly, "Is that so? This concubine also can't forget that I accidentally missed the target."

The King of Zhennan smiled and said, "Then I thank you very much, Princess, for showing mercy."

Finally, after settling the guests, when Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li returned to the study, Xu Qingchen was the only one left. Seeing them come in, he looked up and smiled, "You're back?" Ye Li smiled and said, "Brother, are you still busy? Aren't you going to see your good friend?" Xu Qingchen raised his eyebrows and said, "Is Anxi here?" Ye Li nodded and said, "It seems that Nanzhao can't send any other important envoys except Princess Anxi now. Brother, aren't you going to see her? Princess Anxi was disappointed when she left just now." Xu Qingchen looked up and glanced at her calmly, and said calmly, "I will go to visit Princess Anxi later, why rush now?" Ye Li was helpless. His brother's demeanor, which seemed like a Taoist immortal that mortals could not easily offend, was really depressing. Passing through a cluster of flowers without getting a single leaf on him? No, he didn't even go through the flowers, just watching from a distance. He seemed very close and gentle, as if he could touch her, but when he really touched her, he felt as if he was out of reach. Even her aunt was worried that her brother would see through the world and become an immortal. It wasn't that Ye Li wanted to put her brother and Princess Anxi together, but Princess Anxi seemed to be the only woman who could get close to her brother in recent years.

"The King of Zhennan in Xiling, the Crown Prince of Zhennan, the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince of Beirong, the Crown Princess of Nanzhao, and the King of Li in Dachu..." After hearing Ye Li's talk about the people who came this time, Xu Qingchen said thoughtfully, "Even if it's for the so-called imperial seal, the number of people coming is a bit too heavy." These people are almost the most important figures in each country. The King of Zhennan in Xiling is even more important than the Emperor of Xiling. All these people gathered in Ruyang. It seems a bit of an exaggeration to say that it was just for the imperial seal. "Ye Li smiled and said, "Big brother and Xiu Yao don't think the imperial seal is that important, but others may not think so. "The so-called imperial seal, whoever gets it can get the world. Ye Li thinks that this has always been an irony, it should be whoever gets the world can get it. Whether it is the ancient Qin Shi Huang or the recent Gaozu, who didn't get the imperial seal when the country was already stable? If you have nothing, even if the imperial seal falls from the sky into your arms, you will only be cannon fodder."

"Ari is right. With the imperial seal, one has the so-called destiny. Moreover, it is said that the treasures of the previous emperor also contain the military secrets of the previous emperor and the treasures left over from the founding of the country." Mo Xiuyao smiled calmly. In the eyes of those people, the most valuable thing is probably not the treasures, but the military tactics of the emperor. Who dared to compare with the Mohist Army in terms of military tactics at that time? Originally, there was a Zhennan King who was known as the God of War in Xiling, but since the Zhennan King was defeated by Princess Ding, the Mohist Army was simply the nemesis of the Zhennan King in the eyes of the Xiling soldiers. The Zhennan King was invincible throughout his life, but he was defeated by the Mohist Army again and again. It was not difficult to defeat Mo Liufang once, after all, Mo Liufang was the source of the family learning of Prince Ding and was a genius of his generation, but it was hard to justify defeating Princess Ding again. A teenage girl from a scholarly family could defeat the battle-hardened Prince Zhennan. What else could this be but a natural nemesis?

Speaking of the imperial seal, Ye Li couldn't help but frown and asked, "Will Tan Jizhi come to the northwest this time?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded and said, "Shu Manlin is still in Ruyang. Unless Tan Jizhi doesn't want her anymore, he will definitely come."

"Shu Manlin?" Xu Qingchen raised his eyebrows and smiled. He didn't know when the Saint of Southern Xinjiang came to the northwest. Ye Li smiled and said, "I forgot to tell you, brother. You and the Saint of Southern Xinjiang are old acquaintances. The Saint of Southern Xinjiang mentioned you to Li'er before. Do you want to meet her?" Xu Qingchen helplessly stretched out his hand to rub Ye Li's head. He ignored Mo Xiuyao's unhappy eyes and smiled, "Forget it. I guess she doesn't want anyone else to know that she is here." The Saint of Southern Xinjiang cannot leave the Nanzhao Royal City. If the people of Southern Xinjiang know about it, Shu Manlin's career as the Saint of Southern Xinjiang will be over.

In Ruyang City, people from all directions came to join in the celebration, making this originally not-so-famous city in the northwest suddenly prosperous and noisy. Many merchants from other places appeared on the streets at some point, selling various goods from the interior of the country or from Xiling, Beirong, and Nanzhao to passers-by. Various inns, wine houses, and teahouses in the city were also full of people. Not only envoys from the court came into the city every day, but also merchants from all over the country, knights in the rivers and lakes, and even travelers. The entire Ruyang City was unprecedentedly lively and prosperous.

Ningxiang Pavilion is a newly opened dance house in Ruyang City, but it has become the number one dance house in the northwest in less than two months. However, Ningxiang Pavilion is completely different from ordinary brothels. The girls in Ningxiang Pavilion only sell their skills and not their bodies. It is better to say that it is a wine house than a dance house. Because here there are not only the most beautiful women, but also the best wine and the most delicious Jiayao. Here you can ask girls to order songs and watch dances, but you cannot ask them to accompany you with wine, let alone any other amateur services. Therefore, this Ningxiang Pavilion not only entertains male guests, but also female guests.

But people are born with such a temperament. The more you are not allowed to do this or that, the more you think she is the best. After all, it is the same to listen to music, drink wine and appreciate beauties. Compared with visiting brothels and drinking tea and wine in Ningxiang Pavilion, the latter is always more elegant. Moreover, the beauties in Ningxiang Pavilion are really real beauties. They are not heavily made up and have coquettish voices like those in brothels. Every beautiful woman with a little makeup and wearing the same style and color clothes in Ningxiang Pavilion...serving plates. As for those who perform piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, singing and dancing, they are even more beautiful among beauties. Not to mention these poor places in the northwest where there are not many beauties, even the literati and poets from the land of beauties in the south of the Yangtze River will be intoxicated by it.

Ye Li sat in the second-floor room of Ningxiang Pavilion, leaning against the window and looking outside. It was already night, and the entire Ruyang City was ablaze with lights as bright as day. Opposite of Ningxiang Pavilion, there was a high platform where some kind of ring game seemed to be played. Downstairs, there was a crowd of people, and it seemed to be even more lively than during the day.

"It's so late, why are you out here, Princess?" Yao Ji was wearing a red silk dress, and her originally stunning face had recovered 70% to 80%. Although she didn't look as stunning as before, she looked a little more gentle and charming. Pushing the door open and coming in, Yao Ji leaned against the door and asked with a smile. Ye Li smiled and said, "I have nothing to do, so I came out to take a look. You have managed Ningxiang Pavilion well." Yao Ji pouted and said, "Yes, I have to thank Princess for your kindness, otherwise it would be a pity for so many beauties in Ningxiang Pavilion to fall into the dust."

Ye Li looked at her with a half-smile and said, "Who said that beautiful women must open brothels? Tianyi Pavilion has many brothels under its umbrella, so there is no need to open another one. And Ningxiang Pavilion may not make less than your Qingchengfang, right?"

Yao Ji nodded and smiled, "Princess, you are right." The high cost of Ningxiang Pavilion made even Yao Ji, who once ran the top brothel in the capital, gasp. But the business has been quite good in the past few days, and they have made a fortune in less than half a month. So, there is a saying that is right. This person... is born a scumbag!

"Remember, if you want a girl to accompany you, let them go out and go to those brothels by themselves. Ningxiang Pavilion only provides the best wine and the best food, the most pleasant music, the most beautiful dance and the most exciting talent show, nothing else!" Ye Li ordered while watching the scene downstairs. Yao Ji nodded and said, "Yao Ji understands. Speaking of which...Today, the King of Li, the Seventh Prince of Beirong and the Prince of the South of Xiling Town all came to Ningxiang Pavilion during the day."

Ye Li smiled and said, "Ningxiang Pavilion has risen so fast, it would be strange if they didn't come. Don't worry about them, just do whatever they want."

Yao Ji smiled and covered her lips, "I now believe what the princess said that Ningxiang Pavilion exists to make money. But it will be lively these days, and when these people leave..." Ye Li smiled and said, "Don't worry, many people will not leave this time, and there will be more people coming later. This requires Ningxiang Pavilion to make an effort to tell those rich people the benefits of settling down and doing business in Ruyang City..."

"Yao Ji understands." Yao Ji walked to the window and curiously followed Ye Li's gaze and looked out, "What is the princess looking at?"

Ye Li pointed to the arena not far across the street and asked, "What's going on there?" Yao Ji smiled and said, "It's a arena. These days, there are not only many merchants coming to Ruyang, but also many princes and heroes. The arena has been set up for two days, but the champion seems to be a Beirong man. The prize for the winner is a precious sword inlaid with gems that can cut hair. Fifty taels of silver each time. The champion has made a lot of money in these two days." Compared to a precious sword inlaid with gems, fifty taels of silver is naturally nothing. But if no one can win, then the champion does not need to pay any cost at all, and fifty taels of silver is enough for an ordinary family to live for two or three years.

Ye Li was a little curious, "Why is the arena so difficult?"

Yao Ji said: "Archery."

"Archery?" Ye Li raised her eyebrows in surprise. It seemed that the Northern Rong champion was quite confident in his archery skills. You know, what kind of place is Ruyang now? The place where the Mohist Army is stationed. Half of the elite Black Cloud Cavalry of the Mohist Army are stationed outside the city of Ruyang. And all the Black Cloud Cavalry can be said to be archers picked out of a hundred. Yao Ji looked outside and suddenly smiled and said, "Princess, are those young generals of your Mohist Army?" Ye Li looked outside and saw that several young generals had squeezed to the front of the crowd. They were Yun Ting and the young general named Chen Yun who had fought with Ye Li in the Mohist Army camp. It seemed that the two of them had a good relationship now. Ye Li stood up and said with a smile: "Let's go and see what's so special about this Northern Rong Archer."

Yao Ji smiled and said, "In that case, I will also join in the fun. Princess, please."