The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 101: Inspecting the Formation

Chapter 101: Inspecting the Formation

After pondering for a moment, Ye Siheng spoke, "This Master Xue’s appearance is peculiar.

I am not afraid of the Crown Prince being manipulated, but rather someone using the Crown Prince to harm others.

A’li, you should go and take a look."

"Yes," Chu Ye also nodded in agreement.

Apart from their own people, there were also many ministers and relatives accompanying them this time.

If any mistakes were made, he, the valiant general in charge of arranging the defense, would also be held accountable.

Nanli had no intention of standing idly by and nodded in agreement.

Early the next morning, Chu Ye took Nanli to patrol the vicinity of Yuanqiu Mountain, with Ye Siheng naturally following along.

Fortunately, it was autumn now, and the sun was not so scorching.

Chu Ye was afraid that his sister would tire herself out, so he deliberately slowed down his pace.

Little did he know that Nanli walked swiftly through the mountains, showing no signs of breathlessness.

She even said, "Big brother, you don’t have to slow down for me. I can keep up. At this rate, we might not finish the inspection until tomorrow."

Chu Ye looked at her dressed in sturdy attire, her hair neatly tied up, and she exuded an air of elegance.

However, the autumn sun was still a bit harsh, causing her cheeks to turn slightly red.

Although he knew his sister was strong and skilled, he couldn’t help but feel distressed.

He didn’t slow down his pace and led the group to continue the inspection.

One group moved swiftly, and after Ye Siheng’s legs had recovered, he also diligently trained, making his steps as swift as the wind.

At first, Qing Feng followed without any burden.

As noon approached, he could no longer keep up.

His feet felt as if they were tied to two heavy sandbags, making it difficult to move.

He leaned against a tree, gasping for breath, and saw that the Prince and the others had already moved ahead.

"Your Highness... wait... wait for your subordinate," he pleaded.

Ye Siheng felt somewhat helpless. Qing Feng’s martial arts were not bad, but he excelled in bursts of power. When it came to endurance and stamina, he still had a long way to go. On the other hand, Chu Ye had been practicing martial arts since he was young, excelling in both bursts of power and endurance.

Seeing Qing Feng panting for breath, he suggested taking a short rest.

The group found a shady spot to rest.

If it weren’t for Nanli, Qing Feng would have almost collapsed on the ground.

But even now, he wasn’t in a good state.

Leaning against the tree, drenched in sweat, he didn’t even have the strength to take a bite of dry rations.

Ye Siheng said, "You should go back to the hunting palace first."

"No, I must protect you," Qing Feng managed to catch his breath, but his voice was weak.

Ye Siheng ave him a cold glance. "If there is danger, with your current state, I don’t even know who will be protecting whom."

Qing Feng looked embarrassed and said, "For the past two years, I have never left you for half a day. If I’m not by Your Highness’s side, I feel uneasy."

Chu Ye couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Qing Feng, your dedication as a guard is truly admirable."

But afterwards, he couldn’t help but ask Nanli in a low voice, "Sixth sister, looking at it this way, sometimes it seems like Qing Feng, the guard, needs the Prince’s care. How does the Prince tolerate him?"

Nanli replied, "It’s all thanks to his stubbornness."

Who else but someone with a stubborn nature could endure Ye Siheng ’s previous outbursts of anger without being harmed?

Qing Feng should be grateful to his parents for giving birth to him at an auspicious time.

Chu Ye was still somewhat puzzled, unable to fully understand the meaning behind her words.

After filling their stomachs a little, they continued their patrol.

Qing Feng still lagged behind, and if the three in front hadn’t deliberately slowed down, he might have gotten lost in the mountains.

Because they were moving swiftly, by afternoon, they had already completed the inspection of Yuanqiu Mountain.

Nanli examined the various array points but found no issues.

Chu Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

"It’s good that everything is fine."

However, somehow this news reached Emperor Muwu’s ears.

As soon as they returned, eunuchs led them to Changqiu Hall.

Although Changqiu Hall was not as spacious and comfortable as the palaces in the palace, it was still a complete courtyard with all the necessary facilities.

Emperor Muwu’s face was cold as he reprimanded Ye Chengyan, "You’re almost eighteen now, yet you are so careless in your actions. How can you trust just any Taoist?"

Previously, Ming Xu was a spy from the Qi Kingdom who tampered with the palace array, causing the deaths of many palace maids.

Emperor Muwu remembered this lesson.

Not to mention that this Xue Cheng also came from the Sanqing Temple, so naturally, he was incredible.

Ye Chengyan pursed his lips and said, "Father, I have dispatched individuals to thoroughly investigate the background of Master Xue. He is indeed resolute in his Daoist beliefs, dedicated to exorcising demons and protecting the people, only accepting minimal compensation. He is a trustworthy individual."

"Previously, Ming Xu was also praised by everyone, yet he turned out to be a spy of Qi Country who had infiltrated Mu for over twenty years. Not only I, but even the former national teacher, were deceived by him. You have only known this Master Xue for a few days, and yet you dare to claim he is trustworthy?"

Emperor Mu slammed his hand on the table, visibly infuriated.

Empress Xie looked at her son being reprimanded, feeling anxious but unsure of how to intervene.

Ye Chengyan lowered his head, at a loss for words.

Coincidentally, at that moment, a eunuch came to report that the Ninth Prince and Miss Chu were waiting outside the hall.

Emperor Mu’s expression eased slightly, his anger dissipating as he hurriedly invited them into the hall.

Ye Siheng respectfully saluted, as Emperor Mu had already exempted him from the customary kneeling ceremony.

However, it was different for Nanli.

As a young lady from the Marquis’s residence, she still had to perform the grand courtesy when meeting the emperor and empress.

In fact, she disliked meeting the empress the most.

But Emperor Mu slightly raised his hand and said, "We have already exempted the Ninth Prince from the kneeling ceremony since he is now betrothed to you, becoming a couple. There is no need for you to kneel either."

Empress Xie’s face stiffened, struggling to maintain her composure.

Exempting Ye Siheng from the kneeling ceremony had already been a great favor.

She never expected that Nanli would be exempted from it just because she was betrothed to him.

This was Emperor Mu’s decision.

If in the future, when her son ascended the throne, he dared to demand that the couple kneel, it would be a great disrespect to Emperor Mu.

Ye Chengyan’s face also turned pale.

Nanli, however, didn’t think as much as the mother and son.

Upon hearing that she didn’t need to kneel, she happily knelt down and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Seeing her still blushing, Emperor Mu felt a pang of tenderness.

"You have been running around all day, it must have been exhausting. Did you notice anything amiss during your inspection?"

Nanli already knew the whole story when she arrived.

Seeing Ye Chengyan kneeling at the moment, she wasn’t surprised.

"No, Your Majesty," Nanli spoke honestly, "The array set up by Master Xue in the Changqiu Hall is indeed effective in preventing evil spirits."

Empress Xie breathed a sigh of relief.

Ye Chengyan regained his composure and straightened his chest.

Emperor Mu glanced at him, his displeasure deepening, and then asked, "What do you think of the changes Master Xue made to the layout of the Changqiu Hall?"

"It’s excellent, a gathering of energy and invigorating layout," Nanli replied.

Ye Chengyan said, "Father, I told you that Master Xue is trustworthy."

Emperor Mu still wore a stern expression towards the crown prince and said, "Mystical arts and Daoist practices cannot be judged based on just one or two things.

You are not adept in these matters and are easily susceptible to manipulation!"

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