Mountain and River Festival 291. Mr. Qingyun's worries

At the end of May of this year, the new emperor of Great Chu had been on the throne for less than two months, and most of the power in the court was in the hands of the Regent. However, the undercurrents in the court had not stopped. The intentions of the King of Li were too obvious, and the upright officials in the court who supported the orthodox system gradually gathered together, forming a hidden check and balance with the Regent.

On the northern border, the battle in front of Zijing Pass continued. Further north, the Beirong army had already begun to stir before the arrival of early summer. On May 20, the Xiling army once again launched an offensive on the southwestern border. The people of the southwest, who had just experienced war a few years ago, were once again caught in the flames of war.

Northwest Glass City

On a mountain not far from the city, the Lishan Academy, hidden in the lush forest, is still quiet and elegant, like a place from another world. Ye Li walked through the quiet bamboo forest, thinking about the place where the sound of the piano came from not far away. In an open space in the bamboo forest, Mr. Qingyun, with white hair and beard, sat on the ground, with a paulownia piano on his knees, gently stroking the strings to produce faint piano sounds. Not far from him, Su Zhe, who also had white hair and beard, sat, listening to the piano music while leisurely brewing tea.

"Li'er is here?" Mr. Qingyun stopped playing the piano, turned around and looked at Ye Li with a faint smile.

"Grandpa, Mr. Su." Ye Li said softly, and walked forward to help Mr. Qingyun sit down on the stone bench in front of Su Zhe. Su Zhe smiled and poured a cup of tea for both of them, and said with a smile: "Why did the princess come here at this time? Are you here to see the young master?" Ye Li smiled and said: "Xiaobao has Grandpa and Mr. Su to teach him, I am very relieved, those children didn't disturb Grandpa and Mr. Su, right?" Now there are not only students studying in Lishan Academy, but also three little kids. Mo Xiaobao is going to study in Lishan Academy, and Leng Junhan has to follow him even though he is still young. So Qin Zheng sent her own Xu Zhirui over, saying that the three children can keep each other company.

"The young prince is three times smarter than the prince was in his youth, so why should he bother?" Su Zhe said with a smile, and his eyes were full of love when he mentioned Mo Xiaobao. He liked Mo Xiaobao's intelligence, and Mo Xiaobao was respectful and polite to this eunuch Su as if he were his grandfather, which naturally made the childless old man Su love him even more, and sometimes even Mr. Qingyun had to take a back seat. It must be said that although Mo Xiaobao was young, he was so good at flattering that many adults could not catch up.

Mr. Qingyun looked at Ye Li with a gentle and kind expression, "Li'er, are you going on a long journey?"

Ye Li looked at Mr. Qingyun in surprise, "Grandpa is in Lishan Academy, but it turns out that he is not oblivious to what is happening outside. He actually knows everything about current affairs in the world."

Su Zhe shook his head and smiled, "I don't know if Mr. Qingyun is a talented writer, but he knows everything about astronomy, geography, astrology, and medicine. This morning he told me that the prince and princess's star shifted, and I'm afraid they will have to travel far again in the near future. Look, the princess is here now?"

"Is this also possible?" Although Ye Li had heard of the so-called astrology, she herself had never studied it. Because the traces of her past life were still engraved in her bones, she even had some doubts about these, "Then, what else can grandpa see?"

Mr. Qingyun stroked his snow-white beard, shook his head and sighed, "The world... is in chaos. Such chaos... is rare in hundreds of years."

After hearing what Mr. Qingyun said, not only Ye Li but also Su Zhe's expression became serious. Su Zhe said with some regret: "Is it really irreversible?"

Mr. Qingyun shook his head and said, "This chaos...was planted several years ago, and there is no turning back. Li'er, in this generation of the Xu family, you and your elder brother are the most outstanding. Especially you...it is inevitable that there will be casualties in the battle for supremacy, but the people are innocent, so no matter what, you must not ignite your anger on the innocent people. You and Prince Ding must avoid this."

Ye Li nodded and said softly, "Please rest assured, Grandpa, Xiu Yao is not such a person." Ye Li understood what Mr. Qingyun meant. There was no so-called human rights issue in this era. The common people were as worthless as grass. There were countless records of massacres in the history of dynasties. Even if they were covered up by the rulers, the descendants could still see some traces from them. But Ye Li didn't think she would do this. Whether it was basic human nature or her identity as a soldier, she would never allow her to do such a thing. And she also believed that Mo Xiu Yao would not do such a thing.

Looking at the serious Qingwan woman in front of him, Mr. Qingyun sighed on his wrinkled face. A trace of worry flashed across his wise eyes, and he sighed softly: "Well, we are all old. The future depends on you young people. Be careful when you go out."

Ye Li nodded and smiled, "Grandpa, don't worry. But after we leave, only my eldest brother will be left in Licheng. Please talk to my eldest and second uncles. I'm afraid my eldest brother can't handle it alone." My second uncle Xu Hongyan came to Lishan Academy to teach early. Although my eldest uncle is still in Licheng, he seems to have an interest in agriculture. He has visited my fourth and fifth brothers several times in the past year. Although this is also a very important matter, it would be a bit of a waste of talent to let Xu Hongyu take charge.

Mr. Qingyun stroked his beard and smiled, "They were idle before because they had nothing to do. Now that they have something important to do, they will naturally go back. Why do I need to tell them?"

Ye Li blinked her eyes and suddenly understood, "Thank you for your advice, Grandpa. Li'er understands."

Mr. Qingyun nodded and said with a smile, "Grandpa knows you are very busy. You don't need to stay with us old men. Go ahead."

Ye Li then stood up and said goodbye to Mr. Qingyun and Su Zhe.

Looking at the graceful figure getting farther and farther away, Su Zhe shook his head and said to Mr. Qingyun: "Does Princess Ding really want to follow Prince Ding to the battle? Mr. Qingyun can rest assured?" Mr. Qingyun shook his head and sighed: "The child has grown up. I think Li'er was still a little girl younger than Chen'er..."

Su Zhe had also seen Ye Li when she was a child. At that time, the Xu family was still in Chujing, and Ye Li's biological mother had not yet passed away. Who could have thought that a pink and tender little girl at that time would grow up to be the Princess Ding who is now capable of governing the country with both literary and military skills?

Mr. Qingyun frowned and said, "I see that the evil spirit in King Ding's heart has not yet dissipated. I am afraid that in the future, his blood feud will be too deep and will harm the harmony of heaven. Having Li'er with him can also persuade him a little, which is better."

"How could that be?" Su Zhe frowned. Although he had beaten Mo Xiuyao a few times in the past few years, he had done so a few times. Although he had white hair, Mo Xiuyao's temper was much better than when he was young. Even in normal times, he didn't seem to have any hostility in his heart.

Mr. Qingyun shook his head and said, "We all know what kind of temper Prince Ding had when he was young, but his temper now... is actually disturbing. If he had his original temper, how would he treat Mo Jingqi?" Su Zhe pondered for a moment and his face changed slightly, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, I'm afraid it will be ten times worse. But after so many years, Prince Ding's temper has been polished smooth." Mr. Qingyun smiled calmly and said, "The tempers of the Mo family are all the same, how can it be so easy to polish them? The regent prince back then was the one with the best temper among all the princes in the Ding Palace, right? Do you think the late emperor could bear the blow before his death?"

Su Zhe was dumbfounded. The Regent King that Mr. Qingyun was referring to was naturally Mo Liufang, the father of Mo Xiuyao. Even though decades had passed, Su Zhe still remembered that handsome, elegant, and charming man in brocade clothes. Although he was as good at both literature and martial arts as the previous Ding Kings, Mo Liufang was the one who took the word "elegance" to the extreme. In the world today, only Master Qingchen could compete with him, but Master Qingchen's appearance and temperament were too ethereal, and he looked more like an immortal from the other world. Mo Liufang was a true elegant and romantic man in the world, a noble son from a famous family, and his talent and style should be passed down through the ages.

But even such a person was plotted against by the emperor he sincerely assisted, and the counterattack he left before his death was enough to make people feel sorry for him. The late emperor, who was in his prime, died in just three years, and his ambitions were only paid for in the cold imperial mausoleum. The new emperor Mo Jingqi, who was more than ten years old, also bought Ding Wangfu a few years of buffer time. Otherwise, the brothers Mo Xiuwen and Mo Xiuyao, who were also young at the time, fell into the hands of the late emperor who was already experienced enough. It is really hard to say whether Ding Wangfu would still exist now.

"In that case..." Su Zhe murmured.

Mr. Qingyun said in a deep voice: "Prince Ding has been suppressing himself these years, or he has been playing a chess game in his heart. So he can endure his hatred for Mo Jingqi and the royal family of Da Chu. Even the hatred for Beirong and Xiling. Even though he seems to be carefree these years, he is still enduring. He needs time to lay out, and now... the situation is obviously mature. And the battlefield... is often the place that is most likely to trigger the truest side of people's hearts. Once the years of endurance and suppression explode... no one in the world can persuade him except Li'er." The affairs of Prince Ding's mansion were not just Mo Jingqi, Beirong and Xiling were more or less involved. What's more, the Mo family army was directly killed by the iron cavalry of Beirong. For so many years, whenever Mr. Qingyun thought of Mo Xiuyao's calmness to the Beirong envoy, he felt terrified.

"So that's how it is." Su Zhe sighed, with a more guilty look on his face. If it weren't for the Mohist Army's defense map that Su Zuidi stole, the events of that year might not have happened at all. Even if he felt sorry for his only granddaughter, compared to the tens of thousands of heroes who died unjustly in the Mohist Army, Su Zhe felt that he didn't even have the qualifications to feel sorry. Who would feel sorry for those soldiers who died in the battle for the country? All this happened just because he taught them. It's okay to teach them.

Seeing Su Zhe's expression, Mr. Qingyun understood what he was thinking about. He raised his hand and patted his hand and said, "Those things...are in the past, why think too much about them?"

Su Zhe shook his head and could only look up to the sky and sigh.

After bidding farewell to Mr. Qingyun and visiting Mo Xiaobao, Ye Li returned to Prince Ding's Mansion. As soon as she entered the door, she saw officials and generals who rarely appeared in Prince Ding's Mansion unless summoned waiting in the garden. When they saw Ye Li coming in, they immediately rushed forward to pay their respects. Ye Li raised her eyebrows and smiled, "What's wrong with you? What's the matter with coming to the palace at this time?"

Zhang Qilan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Princess. We have done everything the Prince and Princess asked us to do. How can there be any problem?"

Ye Li smiled and said, "Nothing. Are you all here to pay your respects? We don't have that many false formalities in our palace. Since everything is fine, please go back first."

"Princess..." Others did not dare to say anything, but veterans like Lu Jinxian, Zhang Qilan and Yuan Pei did not have such concerns and quickly stopped Ye Li. Ye Li raised her eyebrows and looked at them with a smile. Lu Jinxian was pushed out and said, "This...Princess, just now the envoys from Xiling and Da Chu asked to see the prince at the same time. We just want to ask...what does the prince mean?" These days they have been secretly preparing for battle and horses, and it seems that the upper level is going to move. These old generals who have been waiting for a while are secretly excited. But today, two countries suddenly came to ask for an audience at the same time. Which side the prince is in favor of will indicate the direction of their future actions.

"The Xiling and Chu envoys are asking for an audience at the same time?" Ye Li raised her eyebrows. She had just returned and didn't know about this news. Lin Han, who was following beside her, touched his nose and said, "This is what I was about to report to the princess. The Xiling envoy came first, and the Chu envoy arrived later. But the prince summoned the Chu envoy first. In addition, the prince asked the princess to go to the hall when she returns."

Ye Li smiled without saying anything, and looked at the people surrounding her with a smile. They quickly stepped aside, "Princess, please."

"Then...I'll excuse myself first?"

"I dare not delay the princess, please come in." It turned out that the princess didn't know either, and everyone sighed helplessly. They could only watch Ye Li go and wait for the result. In a corner, Feng Huaiting and Han Mingyue were sitting and playing chess. Han Mingxi hung himself on the big tree above their heads and yawned while watching the two people's chess game.

"Master Mingyue, do you think you can win the fight?" Feng Huai Ting asked calmly. Although he had only been in the Northwest for less than three months, the Northwest gave Feng Huai Ting a completely different feeling. The officials and generals in Prince Ding's Mansion are generally young, and Feng Huai Ting is now the oldest. Moreover, Prince Ding gave him authority and trust that he had never thought of. Feng Huai Ting once asked Mo Xiu Yao why he trusted him so much, but Prince Ding just smiled at him half-truthfully and half-falsely, saying that he did not trust him, he just trusted Feng Zhiyao. If he betrayed Prince Ding's Mansion, Feng Zhiyao's head would fall to the ground immediately. Feng Zhiyao was also there at the time, and he did not feel the slightest bit of displeasure after listening to Mo Xiu Yao's words, as if it should be so.

Feng Huai Ting didn't understand the friendship of these young people, but as the head of the Feng family, he knew what it meant to make a choice. Although the Dingwang Mansion didn't seem to have an advantage in the overall situation of the world, he didn't know why he just believed that if there was only one winner in the end, it would definitely be Dingwang. And the Feng family would naturally be in the best position to choose the final winner.

"Of course we have to fight. After so many years... Even if the Mohist army doesn't want to move, others can't help it." Han Mingyue said calmly. In the past few years, he has been idle at home. No one in Licheng targeted him or did anything to him. But equally, no one needed him to do anything, he knew because Mo Xiuyao no longer trusted him.

After so many years, he gradually woke up from Su Zuidie's dream and realized what he had lost for his so-called love. But it was already irreparable. Han Mingyue would not humiliate himself by taking advantage of others to save friendship. He knew Mo Xiuyao. Once Mo Xiuyao gave his friendship, he would never give up on you as long as you did not betray him. But once you betrayed, there would be an eternal break. As early as when he took the first step for Su Zuidie, there was no room for redemption between them.

So he just followed his brother like an idle person, giving him some advice when he needed it. Now... this brother was the only relative he had in the world.

Han Mingxi hung himself on the tree like a bat and said lazily: "Whether we fight or not, what does it have to do with us?" They didn't have to go to the battlefield.

Feng Huai Ting put down the chess piece, stood up and said with a smile: "Of course it is related. If that's the case, we should also prepare ourselves."

Han Mingxi fell from the tree, looked at Feng Huaiting's departing back and asked suspiciously, "What are we preparing for?"

Han Mingyue smiled and said, "The food and fodder are sent before the troops move. The head of the Feng family is a smart man."

"Brother..." Han Mingxi looked at his elder brother with some regret and worry. Not to mention that his elder brother was obsessed with Su Zuidie's affairs in the past. Now he has gradually sobered up. His elder brother's talent is definitely not inferior to that of the head of the Feng family, but what happened in the past has determined that he will never be able to use his talents in the northwest. Han Mingyue shook his head in relief and smiled faintly: "Mingxi... For me, the so-called kingship is just a dream. No, I haven't even had such a dream. There's nothing wrong with the current situation..."

"Does Prince Ding really not know that you have been giving me advice behind my back for the past year or two?" Han Mingxi asked. He had limited abilities and was never afraid to admit that he was inferior to others. Many of the things Prince Ding had given him in the past year or two were clearly beyond his capabilities, which made Han Mingxi have to have some doubts. Han Mingxi smiled, patted his brother's shoulder and said, "It's rare to be ignorant. Let's go. Mr. Feng may need your help with something."

When Ye Li entered the reception hall, the envoys from Da Chu had not left yet, while the envoys from Xiling were arranged to drink tea and wait in the flower hall on the other side. When Ye Li walked in and saw the envoy sent by Da Chu, he was stunned for a moment. It turned out that he was an acquaintance. Prince Yu, Mo Jingyu.

"Ah Li, you're back?" Seeing Ye Li appear at the door, Mo Xiuyao, who had a hint of impatience on his face, immediately smiled and stood up to greet Ye Li. Mo Jingyu also hurriedly stood up and saluted, "Princess Ding. Princess, who is this?" Ye Li smiled and said, "It turns out to be Prince Yu. He just went out of town to see his grandfather. Prince Yu is sorry for not coming to greet you. I hope you will forgive me."

Mo Jingyu certainly knew about the Mount Li Academy on the mountain not far from the city. It was originally the Mount Li Academy of Da Chu, one of the three great academies in the world. And because of Mo Jingqi's stupidity, the Northwest got it for nothing. In the past two years, the talent selection system in the Northwest has basically taken shape. The biggest factor is that the Mount Li Academy has attracted and cultivated a steady stream of talents. Many students who come from thousands of miles away to study will choose to stay in the Northwest after graduation. Not to mention the substantial increase in local students in the Northwest in the past two years, who are even more loyal to Prince Ding's Mansion.

"Please take a seat, Prince Yu." Ye Li said with a smile as Mo Xiuyao sat down on the main seat.

Mo Jingyu thanked him and sat down again. He looked at Mo Xiuyao who obviously no longer cared about him and couldn't help but smile bitterly, not knowing how to start. Ye Li said apologetically, "Did I interrupt your conversation?" Mo Xiuyao took one of Ye Li's hands and put it on his knees to play with it, saying, "What's the matter? Are you here to ask for help?"

"Ask for help?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow.

Mo Jingyu smiled bitterly, for Mo Xiuyao's directness. He did come to ask for help, but it always made people feel a little embarrassed to have Mo Xiuyao say it in such a tone. Ye Li frowned and said, "Has the situation become so bad? King Li actually agreed to ask for help from the Mo family army?"

Mo Jingyu was a little embarrassed. Prince Li did not agree. It must be said that no matter how incompatible Mo Jingli and Mo Jingqi were, they were brothers after all. On the issue of Prince Ding's Mansion, they were really insistent without any principles. Perhaps the only difference was that Mo Jingqi was targeting Prince Ding's Mansion. No matter who Prince Ding was, he would have wanted to pounce on him and take a bite. And Mo Jingli was more targeting Mo Xiuyao. But the current situation did not allow Mo Jingli to disagree. Perhaps Mo Jingli could take his people to retreat to Jiangnan. But others could not. Their roots were in Chujing. Once Chujing was broken, everything would be over for them.

"General Leng is now struggling to hold off the northern border at Zijing Pass. Last month, Xiling and Beirong simultaneously attacked Great Chu. It is really difficult for Great Chu to be attacked from three sides... I hope that Prince Ding will lend a helping hand because we are of the same bloodline as Great Chu."

Mo Xiuyao sneered, "Lend a helping hand? Is this what the old men in the court mean? Has Mo Jingli agreed? Can King Yu guarantee that Mo Jingli will not stab you in the back when I send troops? This has happened to my Mo Family Army more than once or twice. King Yu, please go back."

"Prince Ding...are you really going to watch them die without helping?" Mo Jingyu tried to persuade him again. Although he was close to Mo Jingli, he didn't want to see the Great Chu being destroyed. "Does Prince Ding think that our sincerity is not enough? If there is anything else we can do, just speak up, Prince Ding?"

"Sincerity?" Mo Xiuyao said calmly, "From the beginning to the end, I have never seen any sincerity. But... it's not impossible..."

Mo Jingyu was overjoyed, "Prince Ding, just give your orders."

Mo Xiuyao sneered, "As long as Mo Jingli is willing to kneel in front of the Mo family army and apologize for the Great Chu royal family, I can consider it."

Mo Jingyu's face suddenly changed, and he immediately realized that he had come here in vain. Not to mention making Mo Jingli kneel before the Mo family army, I'm afraid it would be impossible to even bend to Mo Xiuyao. With a helpless sigh, Mo Jingyu finally lowered his head in frustration.

Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "It seems that Prince Yu has given up. So please come in."

Mo Jingyu glanced at Mo Xiuyao, who had a nonchalant expression on his face, and finally sighed, got up and left.