The World is Shocked 122. Before the Journey

The disturbance of the arranged marriage was forgotten by the palace, the Dingguo Palace and the Northern Rong Embassy. The capital was still as prosperous and busy as before. The only difference was that the Princess Dingguo was called a fierce woman. Although the noble ladies always talked about her with a bit of contempt and ridicule, who could admit that it was more of envy and jealousy? Ye Li turned a deaf ear to the outside world. Every day, she just took care of the affairs of the Dingguo Palace as usual. When she had time, she would secretly go out of the city to see those who were in training. In the blink of an eye, it was already the day for the princess to set off for marriage.

The day before the departure, the couple who were about to part had no time to be alone. The secret study room of the Dingguo Palace was filled with people, which was rare. When Mo Xiuyao brought Ye Li into the study room, everyone was slightly startled before they stood up to greet them. Mo Xiuyao waved his hand and said, "Forget the red tape, Ah Li, you know most of these people, you can meet the rest too," Ye Li sat calmly beside Mo Xiuyao and nodded with a smile. Looking around, she was familiar with the people present, such as Chief Steward Mo, Feng San, and Leng Haoyu, but some others looked a little strange. She looked at Mo Xiuyao in confusion, and Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "This is General Zhang Qilan, who is in charge of the troops near the capital of the Mo family army. This one is Sun Yan, he is the commander-in-chief of the Black Cloud Cavalry. Mo Hua." Mo Xiuyao introduced two middle-aged men who looked extraordinary, and called out a name in a low voice. A man in gray suddenly fell from the beam, bowed his head respectfully and said, "Prince, Princess." Mo Xiuyao looked at Ye Li and smiled, "This is Mo Hua, the commander of the dark guards." Ye Li nodded and smiled at the three people. These three people were the confidants who controlled the real power of Dingguo Palace. Especially Mo Hua. Having entered Ding Palace for more than a year, Ye Li certainly knew that those with the surname Mo in Ding Palace were the people Mo Xiuyao trusted the most. They had been loyal to Ding Palace for generations since Mo Sheyun was still in power.

Zhang Qilan and Sun Yan quickly stood up and said, "Your subordinates have seen the princess."

Ye Li smiled and said, "We are all family, there is no need for the two generals to be polite."

Feng Zhiyao and Leng Haoyu, who were sitting on the side, looked at each other and saw a hint of surprise and affirmation in each other's eyes.

After everyone sat down again, Mo Hua disappeared into the study room. Ye Li looked sideways at a shadow somewhere in the study room and smiled faintly. She could certainly sense that Mo Hua was slightly dissatisfied or unconvinced with her, but this was not a problem that needed to be solved now.

"Your Highness, the journey to the Northern Rong Kingdom is long and it will take several months. Is it inappropriate for Your Highness to go there alone?" Zhang Qilan is a soldier and a straightforward person. He says whatever is on his mind.

Others nodded, even though they knew that what had been decided could not be changed. Sun Yan suggested, "Prince, would you like the Emperor to agree to have the Mohist Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry escort the princess and you to the Northern Rong?" Everyone present agreed. The Northern Rong Kingdom and the Dingguo Palace had a deep blood feud, and they were worried about the prince going to the Northern Rong alone. Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly and said, "The Emperor will not agree. Not to mention the Emperor, even the Northern Rong will not agree." If the Mohist Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry were sent to escort the marriage team, they would not even be able to enter the Northern Rong border. The Northern Rong people were no less hostile to the Mohist Army than the Mohist Army was to the Northern Rong.

Leng Haoyu smiled and said, "You don't have to worry too much. I believe the Northern Rong people are not brave enough to attack the prince directly. The Mohist Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry certainly cannot go, but no one will say anything if we bring a few secret guards." As for how many people to bring, it is up to them to decide.

The discussion in the study paused, and everyone looked at Mo Xiuyao. Although the Dingguo Palace has been very low-key for so many years, it was indeed the prince who dragged his sick and disabled body to restore the Dingguo Palace, which was almost on the verge of collapse. They should believe that since the prince agreed to the emperor's trip to Beirong, he must have made a plan in mind. Mo Xiuyao held Ye Li's hand with one hand and smiled lightly: "Since the prince is going to Beirong, he naturally has a perfect plan. Now we should worry about what will happen in the capital after the prince leaves." Everyone was startled, and Feng Zhiyao frowned and said: "Does the prince suspect that someone will attack the Dingguo Palace after you leave?"

Mo Xiuyao said calmly: "I have finally waited for this opportunity to leave the capital, it will be difficult for the other party not to take action. After I leave the capital, everyone will obey the princess' orders."

Everyone present was stunned, and couldn't help but look at the quiet woman sitting next to Mo Xiuyao. Although they admired the performance of the princess over the past year, a sixteen-year-old woman who was in full control of the entire Dingguo Palace would still make people question her ability. Sun Yan frowned and said, "Prince, what do you mean..." Mo Xiuyao did not answer him immediately, but looked at Ye Li and smiled, "A Li, is the jade pendant I gave you a few days ago still there?" Ye Li was startled, and then she remembered what Mo Xiuyao was referring to. He lowered his head and took out a jade pendant from his sleeve pocket and spread it out. Everyone looked at it intently and couldn't help but take a breath of cool air. In Ye Li's palm lay a piece of top-grade mutton-fat white jade. The jade was not suitable for women to use, so Ye Li usually just kept it with her and never wore it. There is a lifelike Jiaozi carved on the jade pendant.

Ya Zi, the second son of the dragon, has a dragon head and a jackal body. He is fierce, brave, good at fighting, and bloodthirsty. However, this is the real military token of the Dingguo Palace. The Mohist Army, like the Black Cloud Cavalry, does not have a universal military token. All the armies can be mobilized at will by the Dingguo Prince, but there is an exception, that is, the Dingguo Princess holding the Ya Zi jade pendant, whose power is the same as that of the Dingguo Prince. It is precisely because of this that the world always thinks that the Dingguo Princess can also mobilize the Mohist Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry. In fact, there are only one or two Dingguo Princesses in history who really have such power. The reason is that other Dingguo Princesses have never had this jade pendant.

"Prince... the princess is too young, is it..." Zhang Qilan said worriedly. Although the others did not speak, their expressions showed the same meaning. The princess is indeed very capable, and if she can hone her skills for a few years, she may be able to stand on her own. But the princess now is only 28 years old and has been in the palace for only a year, which makes people feel a little uneasy.

Feng Zhiyao stood up with a smile, bowed to Ye Li and said, "Feng Zhiyao will obey the order of the prince and the princess."

Leng Haoyu raised his eyebrows slightly, then stood up with Feng Zhiyao and said, "I will follow the princess's orders."

"Feng San, Leng Er, you..." Zhang Qilan stared at the two young men who didn't know the seriousness of the matter anxiously. Feng Zhiyao leisurely fanned his folding fan and said with a smile: "General Zhang, you worry too much. The princess is extraordinary in both civil and military strategies. This year in Yonglin City, she blocked the hundreds of thousands of troops of King Li with only 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers and horses, and killed tens of thousands of enemies, and even completely wiped out the two wings of King Li. Who dares to say that the princess is not familiar with the art of war?" Zhang Qilan was stunned. He naturally heard about the princess defending the city in Yongzhou. But he didn't take it seriously. After all, Murong Shen was still in Yongzhou and the princess was just a woman. There has been no precedent for women to go to the battlefield since ancient times. He just thought that the princess and the Black Cloud Cavalry were in Yonglin, so he ordered the Black Cloud Cavalry to help defend the city. But it was completely different to hear Feng Zhiyao say it himself. Feng Zhiyao had been in charge of the secret guards of the palace for several years before, so it was impossible for him to speak without thinking. Several generals who led the troops looked at Ye Li with a trace of inquiry. They were usually in the barracks and had never dealt with Ye Li. Naturally, they didn't know as much as Feng Zhiyao, Leng Haoyu and others. After hearing what Feng Zhiyao said, they began to doubt whether the prince's decision was too abrupt.

Ye Li put away the jade pendant again, raised her head and smiled at the generals, "I am young and inexperienced. Please give me more advice in the future." She always spoke in a calm and quiet tone, but the generals could sense the fierceness and murderous intent coming towards them. Only those who have been on the battlefield can have such momentum, and this young princess can even completely restrain such murderous aura. If it is not intentional, others can't even feel it, as if the woman in front of them is really as harmless as they see with their own eyes. The generals shuddered in their hearts and bowed their heads, "We will obey the princess's orders."

Mo Xiuyao glanced at everyone with satisfaction and nodded, "Very good. After I leave Beijing, all matters of Dingguo Palace will be decided by the princess. The princess' words are what I mean. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" everyone said in unison.

The secret conversation in the study continued until late at night. When they saw everyone off, they walked out of the study hand in hand and saw only a crescent moon in the sky. Ye Li looked up at the handsome man beside her, and her heart was moved. A feeling of reluctance quietly spread in her heart.

"Ali, what's wrong?" Mo Xiuyao asked softly.

Ye Li shook her head, shook off the depression in her heart and said with a smile: "I am always a little worried about you going to Beirong. I have picked a few people for you to take with you to Beirong."

Mo Xiuyao smiled and asked curiously, "What kind of person can make Ah Li so confident? Is there any genius that I don't know?"

Ye Li sighed and said, "If possible, I don't want to give them to you, because their training and assessment are not completed. But this time the emperor will definitely not let you bring too many people from Prince Ding's Palace, after all, the number of personal guards is limited. You should still take them with you." Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "Since Ah Li is so confident, then this king also wants to see the results of Ah Li's work over the past month."

Ye Li smiled faintly, raised her hand and tapped twice. Mo Xiuyao stared at the surroundings intently, his eyes flashed and he said loudly: "Secret Guards, alert!"

In the night, after a few very light noises, everything returned to silence. After a while, several figures appeared from the trees, the walls, and the eaves, and quickly stood in a row and said in a deep voice, "Please give us your instructions, young master."

Ye Li raised her eyebrows in surprise and said with a smile, "You were able to recognize me. It seems that Lin Han and the others taught me well. How is it, Prince?"

Mo Xiuyao shook his head helplessly and said, "It seems that the secret guards should practice again." These people don't seem to have profound martial arts, but they can sneak into the heavily guarded Dingwang Mansion silently, and then release enemies that are twice as strong as them. It must be said that their abilities are indeed amazing. Maybe the secret guards of Dingwang Mansion have been too arrogant in recent years. Ye Li smiled and said, "Your Highness, there is no need to feel depressed. They were able to enter quietly because they knew the guards of the palace in advance. The guards of Dingwang Mansion do not have too many loopholes." Mo Xiuyao said, "A Li, there is no need to comfort me, and I will not blame them. Where are the guards in the courtyard?"

A moment later, a dozen secret guards and servants came in, covered in dust. The secret guards were so ashamed that they dared not raise their heads. They claimed to be the most powerful servants in Prince Dingguo's mansion, but they were caught off guard quietly under their noses. If it was really an enemy attack, if the prince and the princess had any mishap, they would be guilty of death.

Mo Xiuyao looked at the eight people standing upright in front of him with some curiosity. He felt that these people were completely different from the Black Cloud Cavalry or the Dark Guards of the Mohist Army. But he knew that these people were indeed selected from these three teams. In less than two months, they were able to undergo such a transformation. His beloved wife was indeed very good at training people. "Ah Li, they can't just sneak attacks, right?" Ye Li looked up and said proudly, "Of course not. Without relying on any internal strength, each of them can easily fight at least 15 elite soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. Each of them can skillfully use various combat weapons, whether it is single combat, group attack, night battle, water battle, assassination, ambush, or night attack. As for what else they can do, you can tell the prince yourself."

The soldiers stood in a line and started from the first one. "Your Highness, I was originally from the Mohist Army. I am good at assassination and lurking. I also speak the Northern Rong and Southern Zhao languages."

"I was originally a Black Cloud Rider, and I'm good at archery and fighting."

"I was originally a secret guard, skilled in disguise and poison..."

“…”

After listening to their report, even Mo Xiuyao couldn't help but admire, "Ah Li is really amazing. Are you really going to give these people to me?"

Ye Li glanced at him and said unhappily, "Or was it to make you jealous?" After that, without paying attention to Mo Xiuyao's reaction, she looked at the people in the yard and said, "You are the best soldiers in the first training period, and almost all of you have completed the preliminary training ahead of schedule. Originally, you still had a month to learn more skills and then take the assessment. But now you need to carry out the task in advance, I'm sorry."

The leading soldier said, "It is our honor to serve the prince and princess. Please give the order, princess." Ye Li nodded and said, "Very good, from today on you will be the prince's personal guards until the prince returns from Beirong. Therefore, your first mission is to protect him. The goal is to see the prince return to the capital in good condition. Can you do it?"

"We obey your orders and will complete the mission at the cost of our lives." Everyone said in unison.

Ye Li smiled and said, "Very good. This is not only a mission, but also an assessment for you. Because this is your first mission, I will send Lin Han to accompany you. He is not only your leader, but also the one who assesses you. Everyone, have a safe trip."

"Thank you, sir."