Сhаpter 53: Тhе Firе Моth Party
Yеt еven aftеr Shen Du beсаmе thе hеаd of the Grаnd Cabinet, the Judicial Аffаirs Burеau rеmаinеd, still thе Emрrеss’s mоst trustеd institutiоn, and Shеn Du becamе hеr right-hand mаn in eliminating dissidents.
“I hаd thought the Еmpress wоuld bring аbоut а реаceful аnd рrosреrоus erа, but what wе еnded up with wеrе the Whitе and Blaсk Kings of Hеll.”
“Тhеy dеnounced mеritоriоus offiсiаls еvеrуwhеre, invеntеd all sоrts of bizаrre torturе deviсеs, аnd plungеd thе еntirе court into сhaos.”
He let оut a long sigh.
“Who сould havе aссomрlished all this without the Empress’s permission?”
Anything related to Lai Luozhi was bound to be utterly vicious and cruel.
“With a man who takes pleasure in killing in power, what hope is left for this country? And you,” pointing at Shen Du, Mo Qianzhi’s eyes churned with emotion,
“you have done nothing, even joining that woman as her executioner. Once you gained wealth and status, you forgot your true nature.”
Looking at the current court,
the Empress spared no effort to consolidate her imperial power, first establishing the Judicial Affairs Bureau and later setting up the Grand Cabinet.
On the surface, it was said to be for the people.
But in reality, it was only to solidify her own authority.
After a brief pause, Shen Du sneered coldly: “I know full well that I am merely a tool in her hands, a rather useful one.”
Many urged him to be grateful for the Empress’s grace—reinstating the son of a disgraced official was indeed an act of grace—and he did just that. Cold-faced, cold-hearted, and cold in emotion, he served the Empress alone. At her command, he became the swiftest sword.
But he never forgot the purpose of his lingering existence in this world: to overturn the wrongful case against the Shen family.
He took out the woven vine pig and examined it closely. His father’s voice and smile as he wove it were still vivid, as was the memory of it falling to the ground during a search, being kicked away, and then picked up again. The image of his father’s execution remained etched in his mind.
He had never forgotten.
“The old case of the Shen family must be related to the Lai faction, right?” Shen Du tried to sit up, but his weakened body forced him to collapse back.
“After the Grand Cabinet was established, I investigated relentlessly. But the evidence in the Shen family case was conclusive, without a single flaw. Although many signs pointed to the Lai faction, there was ultimately no solid evidence to indict them. Helpless, I worked alongside him in the court for years.”
Mo Qianzhi retorted sarcastically: “Now you can say whatever you want.”
Shen Du fell silent. It was true, and he offered no defense. “You should leave quickly. This is no place to linger.”
Mo Qianzhi shared the same thought: “After today, we may never meet again. Is there anything left unfinished?”
Shen Du lowered his head to look at Zhu Yan, his worries deepening. His already strained body could no longer endure it. A metallic taste rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the bed curtains and bedding, seeping into the fabric like the spider lilies by the Naihe Bridge, exuding a beauty tinged with death.
His gaze lingered on Zhu Yan. Since she married him, she had not enjoyed a single day of peace.
He had truly burdened her.
Guilt welled up, making him deeply uncomfortable: “When you succeed in your endeavors someday, please spare her, and spare the brothers of the Inner Guard.”
Mo Qianzhi agreed and turned to leave, but his steps faltered, as if hesitating whether to speak.
“Speak freely,” Shen Du wiped the corner of his mouth and gestured.
Seeing this, Mo Qianzhi narrowed his eyes, his lips curling bitterly:
“Regarding the old case of the Shen family, I have been investigating the truth behind it all these years. Although the Lai faction led the charge, the Empress tacitly approved it from behind the scenes, and even the Li faction added fuel to the fire.”
To bring down the Shen family, even sworn enemies were willing to set aside their grudges and collaborate."Reason?"
"Because the master was of a reclusive nature, unwilling to be drawn into court disputes. Yet the fact remains that he was highly favored by the previous dynasty's Emperor Gaozong, and that alone offended the interests of everyone."
Shen Shijie did not care who sat on the throne; his concern was the common people. Regardless of who ruled, he would submit, as long as the people lived in peace.
After a moment of contemplation, Shen Du looked up at Mo Qianzhi. "If that were truly the case, the Empress would not have spared me just because you knelt and crawled."
At that time, he was sixteen, not a three-year-old child. He remembered the murder of his father.
The Empress's actions were far too illogical.
"After ascending the throne, the Empress waded through bloodshed and turmoil. How could she not understand the principle of eradicating the roots? Keeping me alive would only leave behind a future calamity."
This reasoning was not without merit, and even Mo Qianzhi had once doubted his own investigation because of it.
"If that's the case, the Empress's willingness to spare you, the son of a disgraced official, likely means she is playing a much larger game."
This speculation sent chills down both their spines. Could today's situation also be part of that game?
Shen Du coughed up another mouthful of blood, his spirit broken. He staggered away from Zhu Yan and collapsed on the other side, vomiting blood incessantly.
It seemed it would be tonight.
Mo Qianzhi's eyes filled with pity as he walked over, bending down to help Shen Du up. "Perhaps it's better to die. Once dead, you'll..."
Once dead, what?
Shen Du looked up, startled to see Mo Qianzhi's eyes bulging, blood gushing from his mouth and nose, his body swaying unsteadily as he half-supported him.
The sudden turn of events left Shen Du stunned. He widened his eyes and looked behind Mo Qianzhi.
Zhu Yan pulled out a knife, her hands trembling with panic. The Corpse-Dissecting Knife clattered to the ground, and she stood frozen before the two men.
Having never killed anyone before, she had not yet recovered from the shock. But seeing Shen Du's stunned and helpless expression, his face deathly pale, she rushed over, pushed Mo Qianzhi aside, and cried out:
"Shen Du, don't die. I don't want you to die."
Shen Du, still in shock, replied hoarsely, "I'm fine. Did you think he was trying to kill me?"
Zhu Yan, panicked, pulled him upright. Hearing this, she exclaimed, "Wasn't he?"
For a moment, Shen Du did not know how to respond.
Seeing Shen Du hesitate, Zhu Yan understood.
When Zhu Yan woke, she saw Mo Qianzhi leaning toward Shen Du, while Shen Du lay vomiting blood. She thought Mo Qianzhi was delivering a fatal blow.
Without a second thought, she took the thin Corpse-Dissecting Knife from her personal bag and stabbed Mo Qianzhi in the heart.
Having dissected corpses for years, she was intimately familiar with the human body. One strike was fatal.
Mo Qianzhi bent slightly, looking at Shen Du, forcing a bitter smile.
"It seems I will no longer have the chance to uncover the truth of the Shen Manor with you."
Before he could finish, another mouthful of blood sprayed out. His body swayed, unable to stand any longer, and he half-knelt on the ground.
"I suppose I'll be leaving before you."
Shen Du wanted to refute him, but Mo Qianzhi stopped him. Coughing uncontrollably, his throat sounded as if it had been torn open, his words rasping:
"These past few days, I discovered something strange: there is a woman living inside Chen Huo'e's body."
"Of course, because he was originally a woman."
Shen Du glanced at Zhu Yan, who stood dumbfounded, staring at the blood on her hands.
Gripping Shen Du's shoulders and staring intently at him, Mo Qianzhi wanted to confirm the truth of his words. Shen Du repeated:
"He is Lai Luofu. I told you she has the skill of voice-changing. The Fire Moth Party is just a tool for Lai Luozhi to destabilize the Great Zhou."
What?
Mo Qianzhi felt a throbbing pain in his temples. He opened his mouth, spraying blood, his expression turning frenzied:"I thought you were deceiving me, but it turns out to be true. Then am I not conspiring with a tiger and aiding a tyrant?"
Silence fell. Shen Du did not know how to respond, but Mo Qianzhi suddenly reached out, gripping Shen Du's wrist and forcing the Corpse-Dissecting Knife another inch deeper.
"Thud!" The sound of the blade piercing flesh was unmistakably clear.
Mo Qianzhi’s brows and eyes twitched uncontrollably from the pain, his neck arching upward in agony. Yet his expression was one of resolute acceptance, as if marching toward death. With a forceful push, he shoved Shen Du away and knelt on the ground, gasping for breath, his laughter tinged with sorrow:
"Shen Du, cough, cough... you must obtain the antidote. You must not die. You must uncover the truth and fulfill my lifelong wish—"
His breath could no longer keep up. "Overthrow... overthrow..." this world.
With those words, his breathing ceased. He collapsed onto Shen Du, motionless. Shen Du’s hand rested on his shoulder, a chill enveloping his body, his eyes stinging with unshed tears, his expression grim.
Mo Qianzhi had come to bid him farewell, yet he had departed this world first, and by a twist of fate, died in an act meant to care for an old friend.
Perhaps it was heaven’s envy of talent, or perhaps fate had ordained it so.
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