Mo Li

"Your humble servant, Vice Minister of Personnel Liu Congyun, greets His Highness Prince Ding."

This time, the envoy delivering the imperial decree was markedly different from the previous unfortunate official. At the very least, the sheer scale of his entourage highlighted the stark contrast between the two. A Vice Minister of Personnel from the Liu family, accompanied by several military officers—not to mention the three thousand elite troops and hundreds of guards who had followed but were stopped outside the city. Feng Zhiyao, standing to the side, curled his lips slightly, a mocking glint flashing in his eyes. What was Mo Jingqi trying to imply?

Seated above, Mo Xiuyao’s complexion remained somewhat pale, yet there was no trace of the man who had lain unconscious in bed just the day before. His once snow-white hair had been restored to jet-black thanks to the medicine provided by Shen Yang. Combined with the faint smile on his refined and elegant face, Mo Xiuyao appeared far too composed for someone whose beloved wife had just gone missing after falling off a cliff.

Liu Congyun studied the Prince Ding before him and frowned slightly, his heart unsettled by the prince’s unexpectedly composed demeanor. Thus, even though he had come bearing a decree meant to reprimand Mo Xiuyao, he still approached respectfully to offer his greetings.

"Minister Liu, there’s no need for such formalities," Mo Xiuyao said calmly, gesturing to a seat beside him. "Please, have a seat."

Liu Congyun glanced at Mo Xiuyao with some unease, futilely searching for any hint of emotion in the other man’s serene and unfathomable eyes. He had no choice but to rise and express his thanks before taking the seat indicated, positioned slightly below Mo Xiuyao.

Mo Xiuyao swept a glance at Feng Zhiyao, who understood immediately and took a seat opposite Liu Congyun with a knowing smile. Soon after, several generals stationed in Hongzhou City arrived one after another, seating themselves in the lower positions. Liu Congyun watched the scene unfold, his smile stiffening.

Mo Xiuyao leisurely set down his teacup and addressed Liu Congyun with a smile, "Minister Liu, I’ve been slightly unwell recently and was unable to personally welcome the imperial envoy at the city gates. I hope you’ll forgive my discourtesy."

Seeing Mo Xiuyao’s amiable smile, Liu Congyun felt a chill run down his spine. He hurriedly responded with a forced smile, "Your Highness jests. As for the matter of the princess consort… She is a peerless and extraordinary woman, blessed by fortune. I pray Your Highness will take comfort."

Mo Xiuyao paused briefly before smiling again and nodding. "Minister Liu speaks truly. My A Li is indeed a peerless and extraordinary woman in this world."

Feng Zhiyao, with an air of ease, also began praising the princess consort—her virtue, her unparalleled beauty and talent, and how she had led the Mo Family Army to annihilate the Western Mausoleum Army with unmatched strategy. Liu Congyun had no choice but to join in, continuously extolling Ye Li’s merits, all while unsure how to broach the real matter at hand.

Fortunately, Mo Xiuyao had not gathered everyone here just to hear endless praise for his wife. Before Liu Congyun could falter further, he smoothly shifted the topic. "If I recall correctly, Minister Liu is the eldest grandson of Prime Minister Liu? How has the Prime Minister been lately?"

Liu Congyun answered cautiously, "My grandfather is in good health and often speaks of the hardships Your Highness endures while campaigning abroad."

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "In my youth, I received much guidance from Prime Minister Liu. It brings me great joy to hear he is well. By the way, for His Majesty to dispatch you—the future head of the Liu family—there must be an important matter at hand. I hope I haven’t delayed your official duties?"Liu Congyun repeatedly expressed his deference, feeling a slight bitterness in his mouth. The current atmosphere was so congenial that he found it difficult to bring up the emperor's edict. He feared that if Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao, hadn't taken the initiative to ask, he might not have found the opportunity to announce the decree at all. Of course, he could have openly declared the edict upon arrival, but Liu Congyun was, after all, the eldest grandson of the Liu family, groomed from childhood as the future head of the household—far from being an ordinary mediocrity. If someone claimed there was nothing suspicious about Wang Jingchuan's death, Liu Congyun would never believe it. He also understood Wang Jingchuan's character and conduct, which made him handle this assignment—one he had never wanted in the first place—with extreme caution, careful not to show the slightest hint of arrogance in front of Prince Ding.

Standing up, Liu Congyun cupped his hands toward Mo Xiuyao and said, "This humble official does indeed bear His Majesty's edict. Will Prince Ding deign to receive it?"

Mo Xiuyao responded with a smile, but his reclined posture in the chair showed no intention of moving. Not only did he not rise to kneel in welcome, but he didn’t even bother to sit up straight as a gesture of respect. Nor did any of the generals seated below make any move to do so. Liu Congyun twitched his lips slightly, pretending not to notice. He was here to announce the edict, not to uphold the emperor's dignity. As long as he could return alive to the capital, he could lodge complaints before the throne however he wished—but the prerequisite was surviving long enough to finish reading the edict and make it back. Turning, he took the bright yellow silk scroll from the attendant beside him, unrolled it, and read aloud:

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao, has presumptuously employed private punishment and indiscriminately killed the innocent, an act of deceiving the sovereign and defying authority. In consideration of his ancestors' merits, We pardon his capital offense. His hereditary title of Prince Ding is hereby demoted to Commandery Prince, and his salary is suspended for three years!"

The hall fell into silence. Liu Congyun could keenly sense the hostile gazes directed at him from those around him, as well as the faint sweat dampening his palm where he gripped the edict. Striving to maintain an outwardly calm and composed demeanor, he rolled up the bright yellow silk and stepped forward, saying, "Your Highness, please receive the decree."

With a light flick of his sleeve, Mo Xiuyao sent the silk scroll spinning into his grasp. He unfolded it, glanced at the familiar handwriting, and narrowed his eyes slightly. After what seemed like a long moment of contemplation, the smile on his lips grew more pronounced—and more chilling. Feng Zhiyao, seated closest to him, shrank deeper into his chair, while the other generals averted their eyes, feigning obliviousness.

"Demoted... to Commandery Prince, with three years' salary suspended?" Mo Xiuyao's voice echoed softly in the hall, laced with a strange amusement. "Is this all His Majesty has to say? Hmm?"

Liu Congyun broke into a cold sweat internally but replied respectfully, "Reporting to Your Highness, His Majesty intended no further implications. It is merely... that this matter requires an explanation to the people of the realm."Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow with a smile, "Did His Majesty not mention matters such as the military authority of the Mo Family Army... or the properties under the Ding Royal Palace—no, the Prince Ding's Estate—that clearly exceed what a princely estate should possess?" Liu Congyun's heart skipped a beat. The emperor had indeed brought up these issues and hinted that it would be best if he could reclaim them from Prince Ding, even promising to promote him to Minister of Personnel afterward. However, Liu Congyun had never intended to broach this subject with Prince Ding from the start. Compared to the ministerial position he would eventually attain, avoiding Prince Ding's wrath and returning alive was clearly far more important. Although the Liu family had always been loyal to the emperor, in Liu Congyun's mind, pleading guilty to the emperor for incompetence was much easier than provoking Prince Ding. Forcing a smile, Liu Congyun replied, "This... was not mentioned in His Majesty's decree, and this humble official dare not presume the imperial will. Surely His Majesty has his own wise judgment."

Mo Xiuyao nodded in agreement, "Minister Liu speaks most reasonably. Logically... since His Majesty has already issued the edict to demote my rank, we as subjects should tactfully surrender those things ourselves. It's just unfortunate... the things in my hands are truly... inconvenient to hand over casually. However... the title of Prince Ding can be returned to His Majesty. Might I trouble Minister Liu to convey to His Majesty that whether I am a prince or a marquis matters not to me. In exchange for retaining the Mo Family Army and our ancestral properties, His Majesty may revoke all my noble titles. How about that?" Liu Congyun's expression changed. He understood the implication in Mo Xiuyao's words perfectly. Mo Xiuyao cared not whether he remained Prince Ding—even as a commoner, the Mo Family Army would obey only him, and the Prince Ding's Estate's properties could still be mobilized by him alone. The title of Prince Ding was but an empty honor. If Mo Xiuyao wished, he could declare himself any title he pleased.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger. His Majesty did not mean—"

Mo Xiuyao sneered, "Did not mean it? Then may I ask Minister Liu, what is the meaning of the 600,000 troops secretly gathering at Flying Goose Pass sixty li outside Ruyang City? And what of Mo Jingli in the south, along with the unimpeded, concerted advance of the Nanzhao and Western Liang armies toward the northwest?"

"This... this... this humble official knows nothing. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness." Liu Congyun was shocked. He hadn't expected Prince Ding to be fully aware of these covert military movements—even down to the exact numbers. Seeing his pale face, Mo Xiuyao softened slightly with an apologetic tone, "Minister Liu, rest assured. This time, I will ensure your safe return. And please convey a message to Marquis Muyang on your way back... he has two fine sons, but it's a pity he himself is too wasteful. Out of respect for Mu Yang's filial piety, I will let you take him back with you. As for Marquis Muyang... tell him to wait in Ruyang City. His life is mine to claim!"

"Your Highness..." Liu Congyun was at a loss for words. Mo Xiuyao smiled, "Of course... this is assuming Marquis Muyang is still alive by the time you return."

"What does Your Highness mean by that?" Liu Congyun asked stiffly.Mo Xiuyao tilted his head slightly with a smile and said, "The entire Mo Family Army is united in their determination to capture the culprit who caused my beloved consort—their mistress—to go missing, seeking vengeance for her. I am deeply moved and find it hard to refuse such loyalty from my soldiers. Don’t you agree, Minister Liu?"

Liu Congyun’s face paled, and he inwardly gasped, feeling as though his heart had been pierced. When he entered the city earlier, he had indeed noticed some troop movements, but he assumed they were for defense against Western Liang’s reinforcements or the approaching allied forces from within the pass. Never had he imagined that Prince Ding intended to attack Ruyang.

"Your Highness, please reconsider! With the Great Chu embroiled in chaos, I implore you to prioritize the stability of the nation!"

Mo Xiuyao’s eyes curved slightly upward, looking at him with a mix of mockery and confusion. "Prioritize the nation? What is that?"

Liu Congyun nearly spat blood. Hearing such words from the lips of Prince Ding, whose family had guarded Great Chu for generations, was enough to make anyone’s blood boil. Beside him, Feng Zhiyao’s lips twitched as he struggled to suppress a reaction. This must be something His Highness picked up from the princess consort—this is clearly her occasional style of speaking. But as he thought of the person whose fate remained uncertain, the faint smile on his lips gradually faded.

Liu Congyun said solemnly, "Your Highness, the Ding Royal Palace has safeguarded Great Chu for generations. You must not let momentary anger destroy both the palace and the nation."

Mo Xiuyao casually sipped his tea. "Oh? The Great Chu’s stability? Isn’t that Mo Jingqi’s responsibility? As for the Ding Royal Palace that has guarded the nation for generations… I am no longer Prince Ding, but Prince of Ding Commandery. Who knows? In a few days, I might just be an ordinary commoner."

Liu Congyun tried his best to offer earnest advice, but the one he sought to persuade remained utterly indifferent. In the end, he could only retreat in frustration with his entourage. He had to return to the capital immediately and report this to the emperor.

Watching Liu Congyun hurry away, Mo Xiuyao made no move to stop him. He glanced down at the imperial decree in his hand, snorted, and tossed the bright yellow silk scroll into a corner of the hall.

Feng Zhiyao stood up with a chuckle. "Your Highness, even if you dislike it, there’s no need to throw it away. That decree is woven from the finest silk, dyed and crafted by the best artisans—something ordinary people could never hope to touch in their lifetime."

Mo Xiuyao nodded in agreement. "A fair point. Then let’s hang it outside the city gate so passersby can admire it to their heart’s content."

Picking up the silk scroll from the floor, Feng Zhiyao asked, "Your Highness, are you truly letting Liu Congyun and Mu Yang leave just like that?"

The other generals present also turned their gazes toward Mo Xiuyao, clearly puzzled by this decision.

Mo Xiuyao smiled. "Let them go. Why not? Liu Congyun… is far more astute than his father or grandfather. Since he has humbled himself to this extent, wouldn’t it make me seem petty if I still targeted him?"

Of course, Liu Congyun is also far more ambitious than his predecessors.

Mo Jingqi, you’ve nurtured a minister who can bend and stretch, backed by a powerful family. Without the Ding Royal Palace, I wonder how you’ll maintain harmony between ruler and subject and create a legendary tale for the ages? "That Mu Yang..." Feng Zhiyao couldn't help gritting his teeth at the mention of Mu Yang. It wasn't that he had any personal grudge against Mu Yang himself, but rather against Mu Yang's father, Marquis Muyang. Although the Marquis hadn't personally led the troops chasing the Princess Consort this time, he had been the one giving the orders. Moreover, they were fully aware of all the contents of the edict Marquis Muyang had received from Mo Jingqi. Under such circumstances, even killing Mu Yang would have been perfectly justified. So Feng Zhiyao completely failed to understand why His Highness would send Mu Yang back to Marquis Muyang.

A cold glint flashed through Mo Xiuyao's eyes as he said calmly, "Mu Yang still has his uses for me. As for Marquis Muyang... have your men be careful not to let him actually die on the battlefield."

Seeing that Mo Xiuyao clearly had his own plans, though uncertain what they might be, Feng Zhiyao refrained from further questions. Only when he happened to catch a fleeting red glint in Mo Xiuyao's eyes did Feng Zhiyao silently lament for Marquis Muyang in his heart—being targeted by His Highness, perhaps dying on the battlefield would actually be Marquis Muyang's best outcome?

Mo Xiuyao stood up, his faint smile transforming into a solemn and dignified expression. The seated generals immediately rose to their feet in unison, ready to receive his orders.

Gazing distantly at the azure sky beyond the hall, Mo Xiuyao's voice was hollow yet solemn: "Issue orders to the entire army... All units currently engaged with Nanzhao and Western Liang are to withdraw immediately. Converge on Ruyang City. With Flying Goose Pass as the boundary, I want to see the entire Mo Family Army assembled within ten days!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" the assembly responded in unison, without the slightest doubt about this decision. Feng Zhiyao stepped forward to ask, "Your Highness... what about the imperial garrison troops in Ruyang and other areas..."

"Expel them all. Those who resist—kill."

--------Author's Note--------

Hmm... has anyone noticed that A-Yao isn't quite normal right now? Not that he's gone mad, but how should I put it... somewhat possessed, perhaps? So we won't discuss the consequences brought about by the Mo Family Army's sudden withdrawal. It's not that he truly no longer cares about the common people—after all, there's a century of family teachings and responsibilities involved. Rather, he currently refuses to distinguish between the people's nation and Mo Jingqi's nation, and moreover... sacrifices in war are inevitable. Scratches head Not sure if I'm making myself clear?