Mountain River Festival 240. Night in the Royal City

Seeing Ye Li coming out, Feng Zhiyao no longer dodged and walked out from under the eaves. Over the years, Ye Li had more or less figured out who Feng Zhiyao really loved. Seeing Feng Zhiyao's usual carefree and uninhibited appearance, she could only sigh that fate was playing tricks on people. In Ye Li's opinion, although Feng Zhiyao was a few years younger than Empress Hua, he was definitely more like a good husband than Mo Jing. It was a pity that the two of them were not destined to be together. Feng Zhiyao heard about Empress Hua's experience, and naturally he could not calm down at this moment.

"Princess, should we go and see the prince?" Feng Zhiyao walked up and asked calmly.

Ye Li thought about it and nodded. Although she was not worried that Mo Xiuyao would be injured, Shu Manlin had transferred hundreds of experts from the Southern Border Holy Land, and she had thousands of royal city guards under her command. It was still a bit worrying not to see the result.

At this time, Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingchen were indeed sitting leisurely in the tallest wine shop in Nanzhao City, leisurely tasting wine. This wine shop was three stories high, and sitting on the top of the building, one could almost overlook any part of the entire city except the palace.

It was unknown whether it was Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingchen who were sitting on the third floor, or Mo Jingli and Lei Tengfeng who had also disappeared in the square in front of the palace, as well as Prime Minister Liu and Consort Liu. Everyone was leisurely tasting wine while paying attention to the fights in various parts of the city. The noise in the square was too shocking, and the people who were immersed in the singing, dancing and drinking did not realize that the royal city was already a bloody storm.

The fight was going on in full swing at the host's house, while the guests were sitting on the side drinking and watching. It sounds unpleasant, but it was the best way to solve the problem at this time. All the parties had some intricate relationship with the protagonists in this fight, and naturally did not want the other party to get involved. So everyone had to drink and watch the show together, and also restrain each other. Mo Xiuyao lazily leaned against the window, playing with the wine glass in his hand carelessly, and was too lazy to even look outside, as if who would eventually own the Nanzhao kingdom had nothing to do with him.

Lin Han walked in and whispered a few words to Mo Xiuyao. Mo Xiuyao, who had been nonchalant, immediately perked up. "Is the princess okay?" Lin Han nodded and said, "Yes, the princess is much better now. She said that the prince has not returned yet, so I will come to see him soon."

Mo Xiuyao glanced downstairs and said with some regret: "I want to go back soon, but it seems that I can't go back here quickly. Go and ask the princess to come over and sit down." Everyone understood that the reason why Prince Ding had been listless was because Princess Ding was not here. As soon as this thought came out, everyone present had different expressions, some were angry, some were thoughtful, and some were jealous.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Ye Li appeared at the staircase. Seeing that there were no other customers on the third floor, only envoys from several countries were sitting at a table, she raised her eyebrows in surprise. Mo Xiuyao stood up and walked forward as soon as he saw Ye Li, "Ah Li, are you okay?" Ye Li nodded and said, "Everything is fine. Is my brother here too?" Xu Qingchen nodded and pointed outside the window and said, "Li'er, come and take a look together." In fact, no matter how tall this restaurant is, it is still night now, and you can't see anything if you really want to see it. Everyone is waiting here just to wait for the final result and prevent the other party from interfering.

Ye Li casually glanced outside and lost interest, "Brother, what's going on?"

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly and said, "The Saint of Southern Xinjiang suddenly attacked several tribal leaders who came to attend the wedding. Princess Anxi naturally wanted to ask her for an explanation, and then a fight broke out." Of course, the matter was not as simple as Xu Qingchen said. The tribal leaders that Shu Manlin had people attack were all people who supported Princess Anxi, including Princess Anxi's in-laws and grandparents. And when Princess Anxi received the news and went to help in person, they intercepted the newlyweds on the way. Princess Anxi has always been popular among the people, and naturally there are a large number of loyal people under her, so the two sides started fighting without giving in.

"Princess Ding, who do you think will win between Princess Anxi and the Saint of Southern Xinjiang?" Mo Jingli suddenly asked from the opposite side.

Everyone immediately turned their eyes to Ye Li. Ye Li looked at Mo Jingli calmly, but saw that he was staring at her with a hint of provocation in his eyes. Ye Li just thought it was funny, and said calmly: "Who wins and who loses is not up to me to decide? But there is a saying that goes... The one who wins the hearts of the people will rule the world. Who is right and who is wrong is also a matter for the Nanzhao royal family and the people of Nanzhao, and it has nothing to do with us outsiders."

Princess Anxi has been governing the country well and benefiting the people in recent years. I don't think that the so-called savior of Southern Xinjiang that Shu Manlin came from nowhere can be easily shaken. As long as Princess Anxi can win a little tonight, her position in Nanzhao will not be easily shaken. Ye Li glanced at Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingchen. Xu Qingchen smiled faintly without any worry on his face. Ye Li's heart could not help but calm down.

The world belongs to those who win the hearts of the people...Everyone present was pondering over this sentence in their hearts.

"Li'er's words are insightful." Xu Qingchen praised with a smile. Ye Li was a little embarrassed. What she said was just a common saying that everyone knew in the previous life. Mo Xiuyao smiled proudly and said, "What Ah Li said is of course reasonable."

Xu Qingchen disdained to argue with the smug and childish man in front of him, not to mention that he was saying good things about Li'er, so he just pretended not to see his smug face. Everyone present was not an ignorant teenager who didn't know the world, and their understanding of Ye Li's words was also different.

However, there was one person who was dissatisfied with this and said coldly: "According to what Miss Ye said, whoever wins the hearts of the people should rule the world. Doesn't that mean that the royal family of Great Chu should have given up the throne to the Dingguo Palace long ago?" Compared with the hearts of the people, although the royal family of Great Chu is the orthodox family of Great Chu, it can't catch up with the Dingguo Palace even if it flatters.

Everyone on the scene looked at Concubine Liu Gui with a strange expression, with mockery and contempt in their eyes. It was clearly a profound statement without any other meaning, but it was misinterpreted by this woman. Should we say that Concubine Liu Gui and Mo Jingqi are really husband and wife?

In fact, Concubine Liu knew something was wrong the moment she said this. She hadn't intended to say anything. But when she saw Ye Li's casual words being praised by Master Qingchen, and the surprised and envious looks from everyone present, and when she saw Mo Xiuyao holding Ye Li's arm with a smug look on his face, as if he was happier than being praised by others, she couldn't help but feel a pain in her heart, and she spat out harsh words without even thinking.

Ye Li looked at Concubine Liu calmly and said calmly, "Concubine Liu said this to admit that the current royal family is not supported by the people? Since Concubine Liu knows it herself, she should abide by the inner curtain and advise the king to cultivate his inner virtues instead of making random guesses and talking nonsense here. My Northwest Li City has nothing to do with your Great Chu. Even if Concubine Liu thinks that the King of Chu is incompetent and unworthy of being a king, it has nothing to do with our prince if she wants to abdicate the throne."

After saying that, he glanced at Mo Jingli's face indifferently. As expected, he saw Mo Jingli's expression change slightly. Mo Jingli's usually cold face showed a rare smile, which made people feel uncomfortable. "So Concubine Liu thinks that my brother is not worthy of being the emperor? I just know this now. It's really eye-opening to see such a concubine."

"What are you talking about?" Concubine Liu glared at Mo Jingli. Mo Jingli had given Mo Jingqi face based on his mood over the years, so how could he be afraid of Concubine Liu? She sneered, "Didn't Concubine Liu say that just now?"

"Your Highness!" Prime Minister Liu also looked at his daughter with some displeasure. Although he could keep some thoughts to himself, Concubine Liu's words and deeds were too much. Now was definitely not the time for them to offend Prince Ding. And obviously, the bottom line of whether to offend Prince Ding or not was on Princess Ding. If you offend Princess Ding, you will be looked down upon by others even more than if you offended Prince Ding. But this daughter couldn't see the situation clearly and challenged Princess Ding's bottom line with nonsense. "Your Highness just made a slip of the tongue. Please be careful with your words, Prince Li."

Mo Jingli snorted disdainfully. A slip of the tongue? This was not the first time he had met Concubine Liu Guifei. She was always so arrogant as if everyone in the world was only worthy of being dust under her feet. Mo Jingli had no doubt that she looked down on his brother, the emperor, and thought he was not worthy of being the emperor.

Over there, Mo Jingli was arguing with Concubine Liu Guifei and her daughter, while over here, Mo Xiuyao was diligently pouring tea for Ye Li, pulling Ye Li aside and saying sweet words without any scruples, almost blinding the eyes of all the people present who had no one to love and no one to love.

Lei Tengfeng looked at the two of them thoughtfully and said with a smile: "Prince Ding and Princess Ding have a really good relationship. I am really jealous of them." Even if you have a good relationship, you don't have to show it in public, right?

Mo Xiuyao nodded in agreement and said, "As the saying goes, one should marry a virtuous woman. For a man, marrying a good wife is extremely important. For those who are lucky, like me, I married Ah Li. For those who are unlucky..."

Mo Xiuyao didn't say the rest, but everyone present understood what he meant. It's just that the person with bad luck has his own choice in mind. They all looked at Ye Li at the same time, and had to admit in their hearts that Mo Xiuyao was indeed lucky.

Princess Ding Princess Ding is not only beautiful and graceful, but also capable of governing the country with both civil and military skills. The most feared Qilin in the northwest today was trained by Princess Ding. It is said that the fourth and fifth sons of the Xu family led the people in the north to reclaim wasteland and plant farmland, and managed the originally barren north to make it prosperous and peaceful for the people. Even if there were no such things, just saying that Princess Ding has two uncles, Xu Hongyu and Xu Hongyan, and five cousins, if people knew that the Xu family valued Ye Li so much, I am afraid that all the men in the world would scramble to marry the beauty.

Since Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li got married, Mo Xiuyao, who was originally living in seclusion in Dingwang Mansion with crippled legs, half-disfigured face and numerous diseases, has become a ruler of the northwest in just a few years. He is healthy and even has a son. What kind of luck is this? The only price Mo Xiuyao paid was a head of white hair. More importantly, since his hair turned white, Mo Xiuyao seems to be even more charming and dazzling!

Even Ye Li blushed a little at Mo Xiuyao's shameless words. She looked calm on the surface, but secretly she stretched out her jade fingers and pinched someone's waist mercilessly. Mo Xiuyao's face immediately fell, "My wife..."

Seeing that the two were getting more and more outrageous, Xu Qingchen coughed lightly to remind them to pay attention to their image as there were outsiders around.

Ye Li was too lazy to pay attention to the funny Mo Xiuyao. She looked at the place where the fighting was still going on and asked, "Did Shu Manlin mobilize the Nanzhao city guards?" Xu Qingchen nodded calmly and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Li'er. Princess Anxi is not a weak woman who will be bullied. The tribes that came to the wedding this time, including the Pu'a family and Princess Anxi's grandfather's family, brought quite a few people."

"There... Mo Xiuyao, you don't keep your word!" Mo Jingli, who was sitting by the window, stared at a certain place for a long time, and suddenly turned around and shouted at Mo Xiuyao. Mo Xiuyao lazily leaned his head on Ye Li's shoulder, glanced at Mo Jingli, and said in confusion: "What do you mean?"

Mo Jingli sneered and said, "Do you dare to say that those people are not from your Northwest? Not Qilin?" After hearing his words, the others immediately stood up and walked to the window to look carefully. Sure enough, they saw a team of people in the chaos, unstoppable wherever they went. Even in the dark, they could clearly see their astonishing speed of advancing. Even if the enemy was several times stronger than them, they could not hinder their steps at all. Everyone looked at Mo Xiuyao at the same time. No one except the Northwest and Qilin had such fighting power.

"Oh, we've been discovered. Ah Li, what should we do?" Mo Xiu Yao did not refuse, but blinked and looked at Ye Li innocently.

Ye Li couldn't help but smile. It was dark now, even if Shu Manlin had thousands of people under his command. If Qilin wanted to avoid being discovered, he would definitely not reveal any traces. This was clearly done intentionally by Mo Xiuyao. Was this... to support Princess Anxi?

Mo Jingli said angrily: "Mo Xiuyao, we all agreed that no one can interfere in the affairs of Southern Xinjiang. You are clearly breaking the agreement by doing this!"

Mo Xiuyao curled his lips in contempt. What do you want even if I broke the promise? Bite me? Mo Jingli's facial muscles twitched when he clearly understood the meaning of Mo Xiuyao's expression. Lei Tengfeng was somewhat rational. He had no intention of intervening in the affairs of Southern Xinjiang. Nanzhao and Xiling share a large area of ​​land, and there have been constant frictions for many years. They could not be friends. The King of Zhennan had already made some plans. If he could not open up Dachu in the short term, he would have to start with Nanzhao. Therefore, it didn't matter to him who controlled Nanzhao.

"Prince Ding, since we have an agreement in advance, you should at least give us a reasonable explanation for your sudden action?" Lei Tengfeng said politely.

Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "Explanation? Nothing much. Of course, it's because I promised you later and Princess Anxi first. Moreover, I have no intention of interfering in the affairs of Southern Xinjiang. It's just that Princess Anxi said that she suspected someone was taking advantage of the wedding to cause trouble, so she asked me for a few guards to protect the safety of the newlyweds and the guests attending the wedding. Princess Anxi is a close friend of Master Qingchen, and she is also quite friendly with my beloved concubine. I can't refuse such a small matter, right? In addition, I am not giving it away for free. The guards that Princess Anxi asked me to borrow cost 5,000 taels of silver each. If they are injured or killed in battle, each person must pay 500 taels of medical expenses or 10,000 taels of pension. Such a fair and calculated transaction, I can do it even if there is no friendship."

Upon hearing this, everyone silently vomited blood in their hearts.

Ye Li was thinking, she didn't expect that Mo Xiuyao had already understood the essence of mercenary army. On the other hand, if Qilin became a mercenary army... not only could he make a lot of money, but more importantly, he could have a lot of opportunities for actual combat. After all, the Northwest has been too peaceful in the past few years, and no amount of training can catch up with the effect of an actual combat. Of course, this was just Ye Li's own fantasy, she couldn't possibly turn the carefully trained Qilin into a mercenary army.

"What are you thinking about, Ah Li?" Mo Xiuyao saw Ye Li lowering her head in thought and knew that she must have some plans in mind, so he asked in a low voice. Ye Li shook her head and said, "I'll talk about it later."

Mo Xiuyao also knew that this was not the place to talk. He glanced at the people who were always looking at him intentionally or unintentionally, and stood up openly, holding Ye Li in his arms and standing by the window to watch the battle. Ye Li had undergone special training, and Mo Xiuyao had profound skills. Naturally, the night vision of these two people was much better than that of the people present. Looking at the performance of the Qilins in the distance, Ye Li nodded with satisfaction. The past five years have not been in vain. The entire Qilin team has basically become mature and experienced. They can completely carry out various tasks alone.

Mo Xiuyao pointed to the distance and said, "Shu Manlin's men have begun to attack the princess's mansion."

Ye Li frowned and said, "Princess Anxi should not be in the Princess's Mansion at this time, right?"

Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "Of course not. Are you going to stay in the Princess's Mansion and wait for death at this time?" Princess Anxi probably didn't expect that her father would actually give Shu Manlin the token to mobilize the guards of the royal city. Facing seven or eight thousand soldiers and hundreds of masters, even if Qilin, supported by Mo Xiuyao, joined the battle, he could only avoid their sharp edge and could not fight head-on. After all, Mo Xiuyao did not bring many people to Southern Xinjiang, and it was impossible for him to mobilize all the forces of Dingwang Mansion in Southern Xinjiang for Princess Anxi.

"Ali, do you want to guess where Princess Anxi is now?" Mo Xiuyao asked happily.

Everyone, except Xu Qingchen, pricked up their ears to listen to the idle chatter here. Ye Li frowned, stared at the scene outside the building for a long time before slowly saying: "To catch a thief, first catch the king." Princess Anxi was not in the princess's mansion at this time, so naturally she couldn't fight with others in the city. Then she had to find Shu Manlin. Only by getting the token in Shu Manlin's hand could she stop the fight in the royal city. The guards of the Nanzhao Royal City were different from other tribes in that they only listened to the clan leader and didn't recognize the person. At this time, without the token, it might not work even if the King of Nanzhao came.

"Where is Shumanlin?"

Mo Xiuyao looked at Ye Li with a smile and said, "Of course it's in the Nanzhao Palace. That woman is so crazy about wanting to be the King of Nanzhao, where else can she be if not in the palace?"

Ye Li frowned slightly. The King of Nanzhao was still in the palace. Although someone was left behind to clean up the mess, it might not be possible to find the King of Nanzhao so quickly if they were not careful. However, it would not be a good thing for Princess Anxi if Shu Manlin found the King of Nanzhao first.

Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "Don't worry, Ah Li. It would be better if the King of Nanzhao could be more sensible. If he still wants to rely on Shu Manlin, I'm afraid... he will be in big trouble. Don't forget Shu Manlin's side..."

Ye Li understood that Shu Manlin had Tan Jizhi by her side, and he was no pushover. If Shu Manlin won, Tan Jizhi would never let the King of Nanzhao live. If the King of Nanzhao died, Shu Manlin's position would be unstable.