Mo Li

The birth of the Little Prince of Ding Royal Palace spread across the land with unprecedented fanfare in a remarkably short time. Moreover, Prince Ding decided to host a grand full-month banquet for the Little Prince, inviting dignitaries and celebrities from various nations. Coupled with the earlier rumors of the Imperial Jade Seal and the appearance of the former dynasty’s treasure in the northwest, countless people flocked to the northwest of Great Chu.

Xu Residence, Chu Jing

Xu Hongyan stared at the letter in his hand, his expression a mix of shock and joy, his fingers trembling slightly as they clutched the missive. Xu Qingbai sat nearby, watching his second uncle’s barely contained excitement with curiosity. “Second Uncle, has something happened with Second Brother?”

Xu Hongyan handed the letter over. “Li’er has given birth to a boy…”

Having spent considerable time honing himself outside, Xu Qingbai had grown far more composed than before. Yet even he couldn’t suppress a smile at the news. Taking the letter, he read it carefully and chuckled. “This is wonderful. Grandfather will be overjoyed when he hears.”

Xu Hongyan nodded repeatedly. Last year, after Li’er had gone missing following a perilous incident, their father’s health had deteriorated drastically. It was only after receiving news of Li’er’s safety that he began to recover. Now that Li’er had safely delivered a son, their father would surely be elated to learn he had become a great-grandfather.

The steward standing at the door observed the rare sight of his master and the fourth young master momentarily losing their composure. Clearing his throat, he reminded them, “Master, Fourth Young Master. The messenger who delivered the letter is still waiting outside.” Though he too was delighted by the news of Miss Li’er’s childbirth, propriety demanded that the messenger not be left unattended.

Snapping back to reality, Xu Hongyan nodded. “Reward him generously—no, wait. Invite the messenger in at once. There are still some matters I wish to ask him.”

The steward bowed and hurried out to fetch the messenger. Moments later, a plainly dressed young man entered. With a cupped-hand salute, he smiled and said, “Lord Xu, Fourth Young Master, it’s been a while.”

Xu Hongyan was taken aback. As the young man lifted his head, revealing a strikingly handsome face beneath slightly disheveled hair, he exclaimed, “Third Master Feng?”

The young man was none other than Feng Zhiyao, who should have been in the northwest. Without waiting for an invitation, Feng Zhiyao slumped into a nearby chair and let out a long sigh, complaining, “To make it back before the news reached the capital, I ran three fine steeds to death on the road. I’m exhausted…”

He had set off the day after the Little Prince’s birth and had raced back to the capital in just three days. By now, the news of the birth was likely still en route.Xu Hongyan was stunned, staring blankly at Feng Zhiyao. It was Xu Qingbai who finally spoke up: "Third Master Feng, is there something else besides the matters concerning Cousin Li'er and our little nephew?" Feng Zhiyao forced a bitter smile, the corners of his lips twitching slightly. "If nothing were amiss, would His Highness the Prince ever allow me to return to the capital for leisure at this time?" Though truth be told, returning to the capital might not be any easier than staying in the northwest.

Xu Hongyan snapped out of his daze and quickly asked, "Has something happened?" Feng Zhiyao didn’t even bother asking for water, instead grabbing a nearby pot of cold tea and taking a direct swig before looking at Xu Hongyan. "His Highness the Prince and Wang Fei wish for Lord Xu and the Fourth Young Master to accompany me in leaving the capital and heading to the northwest."

Xu Hongyan’s expression turned grave. He and Xu Qingbai were the only remaining members of the Xu Family left in the capital—essentially, they were hostages of the imperial court. If they left without the emperor’s permission, it would mean the Xu Family and the royal family had completely severed ties. Seeing Xu Hongyan’s hesitation, Feng Zhiyao spoke solemnly, "To be frank with Lord Xu, the rift between Prince Ding’s Estate and the imperial court is beyond repair. If you and the Fourth Young Master remain in the capital, it may put both of you in danger."

Xu Hongyan frowned. "Our departure is of little consequence—only a few of our family remain here. But the Xu Family has been rooted in Yunzhou for centuries. If the emperor wishes to cause trouble, won’t he find a way regardless?" Feng Zhiyao pulled out another letter and handed it over. "This was personally written by His Highness and Wang Fei. An identical letter has already been delivered to Mr. Qingyun in Yunzhou by my own hand. However, I could not linger there, so Mr. Qingyun and Mr. Hongyu must have already made their decision by now."

Xu Hongyu took the letter with a puzzled expression, unfolding it and reading with furrowed brows. Before long, his face paled, his usually composed demeanor overtaken by fury. After a long silence, he finally erupted, "Absurd! How could such things happen… The emperor actually…! This is truly—!" He slammed the letter onto the desk and glared at Feng Zhiyao. "Third Master Feng, is everything in this letter true?"

Feng Zhiyao gave a bitter smile. "Lord Xu, do you think such things could be fabricated so easily?" Xu Hongyan fell silent. Each account in the letter was horrifying—none of it could be casually made up. Yet the reality was so unbelievable it defied comprehension.

Xu Qingbai, noticing his uncle’s barely contained rage, quietly rose and walked to the desk, picking up the letter. The moment he read it, even though he thought he had braced himself, he was still deeply shaken. The imperial family… had they truly gone so far as to be utterly deranged? At the same time, the young Xu Qingbai felt a surge of disappointment and fury toward the man seated high upon the dragon throne—and the entire imperial court.Lowering his gaze, he folded the letter and gently placed it back on the table. Xu Qingbai chuckled softly, "Second Uncle... is it worth it... for such things?" His father possessed the talent to benefit the world, yet was never allowed to serve in office, confined instead to teaching students at Mount Li Academy. His second uncle, equally capable and pragmatic, had been stuck in the lowly position of a censor for over a decade, forced to watch the endless political machinations at court. All five brothers had to suppress their talents and aspirations. But how long must this suppression last? Would it end with their generation, or only when the Xu Family was utterly destroyed? No wonder his eldest brother had refused to serve in the court—he must have seen early on that such a life had no end in sight. Xu Hongyan clenched his teeth in silence, his tightly balled fists betraying the turmoil within him. Prince Ding's Estate and the imperial family shared the same bloodline, yet despite generations of unwavering loyalty and sacrifice for the sake of Chu, this was their fate. What hope, then, did the Xu Family have? In the reign of Chu, the Xu Family had no path left but to fade silently into obscurity.

Feng Zhiyao sat silently in his chair, watching the two men before him. These matters chilled the heart—not just the Xu Family’s, but even someone like Feng Zhiyao couldn’t help but feel a deep, icy anger.

Xu Hongyan tucked the letter away and looked up at Feng Zhiyao. "I presume Third Master Feng still has other matters to attend to in the capital. Allow this old man two days to consider before giving you an answer." Feng Zhiyao did indeed have many affairs to settle. Rising to his feet, he nodded. "Of course. Once Lord Xu has made a decision, simply send word to me. I will remain in the capital for some time yet—there is no urgency in this matter. I shall take my leave now." As Feng Zhiyao turned to go, Xu Hongyan frowned and called out, "Third Master Feng." Feng Zhiyao glanced back. "Does Lord Xu have further instructions?"

Xu Hongyan sighed. "If it is convenient for you, Third Master Feng, perhaps you should return to the Feng Family for a visit. Over the past year, the old master has come to our residence several times to inquire about you. There are no lasting grudges between father and son... Remember, a child may wish to care for his parents, but time does not wait..." Feng Zhiyao clearly hadn’t expected Xu Hongyan to bring this up. He stiffened slightly, and at the mention of "time does not wait," his expression shifted. His smile turned bitter as he nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Xu."

He was a bastard son of the family, never favored by his father since childhood. In his youth, his rebellious and unruly behavior had nearly gotten him disowned. Before leaving for the military campaign last year, he had severed ties completely—the Feng Family had publicly declared that Feng Zhiyao was no longer one of them. Now, where exactly was he supposed to "visit"?

Alluring City Quarter.The Alluring City Quarter, despite having changed owners and courtesans, remained the most renowned song and dance house in the capital. However, the once famously dashing Third Master Feng was no longer a distinguished guest who could enter through the front door but had to slip in secretly through the back. Pushing open the door to a secluded room deep within the winding corridors, he found someone already waiting inside. The person looked up with a faint smile as Feng Zhiyao entered and remarked, "Feng San, it’s rare to see you like this—truly... memorable."

Third Master Feng had always been flamboyant, even on the battlefield, where his striking crimson robes made him stand out. But now, he wore plain cloth garments, and even his strikingly handsome face had been subtly altered to appear more ordinary. Feng Zhiyao let out a dissatisfied huff, eyeing his attire with disdain. "This is precisely why I dislike these underhanded dealings—utterly lacking in elegance."

"Just came from the Xu Family?" asked the young man—none other than Leng Haoyu, the son-in-law of General Murong from the Leng Family. Now in charge of all the businesses and forces under Prince Ding's Estate within Great Chu, Leng Haoyu could no longer flaunt himself openly and had to operate from the shadows. The two most notorious playboys of Chu Jing had both vanished from the public eye, much to the disappointment of the city's talented beauties.

Feng Zhiyao nodded. "The Xu Family isn’t a concern. Lord Xu and the Fourth Young Master Xu are both clever men. It’s our own task that’s troublesome. Any news on what I asked you to investigate?"

Leng Haoyu shook his head helplessly. "Mo Jingqi is deeply suspicious. No one knows the whereabouts of the Underworld Flower—not even his own mother, the current Empress Dowager." Feng Zhiyao sighed. "No matter. The item must be somewhere in the Chu palace. I refuse to believe we won’t find it if we turn the place upside down!" Given Mo Jingqi’s nature, such a treasure wouldn’t be kept far from him. After a moment’s thought, Feng Zhiyao added, "First, we’ll locate Emperor Taizu’s edict and ensure Lord Xu and his son are settled. If we still haven’t found the Underworld Flower by then, others can escort the Xu Family and the item back to the northwest. I’ll stay behind to keep searching."

Leng Haoyu raised an eyebrow. "Wang Ye and Wang Fei never intended for you to remain in the capital. Besides, I’m not leaving anytime soon—I can handle the search. What’s the point of you staying?"

Feng Zhiyao glared at him. "I’ll naturally report to Wang Ye and Wang Fei. With all the responsibilities you’re juggling, how long would it take you to find the Underworld Flower?"

Leng Haoyu rubbed his nose in resignation. Did he really seem like someone who couldn’t prioritize?

Under Feng Zhiyao’s unwavering stare, Leng Haoyu finally conceded with a sigh. "Fine, as long as Wang Ye and Wang Fei agree, I won’t interfere." Only then did Feng Zhiyao give a satisfied hum, pouring himself a drink from the table and sipping leisurely.

Late Night

Several shadows darted swiftly over the palace walls and into the imperial grounds. Over the past month, security in the Chu palace had tightened considerably. Patrols of palace guards and eunuchs passed by frequently, yet none of this posed any difficulty for the intruders. Like phantoms, the figures evaded the guards and slipped deeper into the palace.In the Empress's palace, Empress Hua had changed out of the heavy and ornate decorations and robes from the day, wearing only a simple light-purple silk dress. Her beautiful hair was casually tied up with a purple jade hairpin as she sat under the lamp, lost in thought while holding a book. With the delicate and lavish makeup washed away, her stunning face lost some of its dignified nobility, revealing a softer and more youthful appearance. She no longer looked like the mother of a nine-year-old child at just thirty years old, but rather resembled a beautiful young woman barely in her early twenties.

A faint breeze suddenly swept through the half-open window, causing the candle flames in the hall to flicker. The Empress snapped out of her reverie, sensing an unfamiliar presence in the room. She turned sharply and saw a tall figure clad in black standing in the corner, watching her. Startled, she immediately called out, "Who's there?!"

"It's me." The black-clad figure stepped forward, his handsome peach-blossom eyes filled with complex emotions as he gazed at the woman in purple under the lamplight.

The voice, both unfamiliar and yet somewhat familiar, made the Empress pause. When she saw the man's face clearly, she froze completely, frowning as she asked, "How did you get into the palace?" Only then did she realize her earlier exclamation might have alerted the guards and maids, so she hurried to the window to close it.

"You don’t need to worry. No one will come," the black-clad man said. He was none other than Third Master Feng, Feng Zhiyao.

The Empress let out a sigh of relief. Looking at the strikingly handsome young man in black, she couldn’t help but sigh softly. Turning away, she poured a cup of tea and gestured to a nearby chair. "Sit down and talk. Weren’t you in the northwest? How did you return? And why are you in the palace?" Feng Zhiyao glanced at the blue-and-white porcelain cup placed before him and replied quietly, "I returned on Wang Ye’s orders to handle some matters. I thought I’d visit you while I was here—unless I’m not welcome?" His suddenly melancholic tone caught the Empress off guard. She smiled faintly. "Of course you’re welcome. Very few people from my past ever come to see me. In this palace, the faces I see are always the same." Feng Zhiyao stared at her intently. "Have you been well all these years?"

The atmosphere in the hall grew heavy. The Empress smiled faintly. "As the Empress of a nation, the motherly figure of the realm, how could I not be well? But let’s not talk about that… It’s been so many years since we last met."

Feng Zhiyao murmured, "Twelve years… eleven years and six months."

The Empress’s smile faltered. "I didn’t expect you to remember so clearly."For a moment, the two of them stood in silence. Feng Zhiyao studied the woman before him intently. Though Su Zuidie was hailed as the most beautiful woman in Chu Jing, Feng Zhiyao had never found her particularly striking. To him, the most beautiful would always be that noble young girl who had once gently helped him up when he was just nine years old, after being pushed to the ground and beaten by his legitimate brothers. She had wiped the dirt from his face and told him with a smile that if he didn’t want to be bullied, he must strive to become stronger. It was she who had taken his hand and secretly brought him to Prince Ding's Estate, asking Xiu Yao to train with him in martial arts. And when he fell ill with no one to care for him, it was she who quietly sent him medicine and silver. From that moment on, Feng Zhiyao’s eyes had only ever seen that gentle and noble girl.

Yet, the distance between them was far too great. He was the illegitimate son of a merchant family—even if the Feng family was one of the four great merchant houses of Chu, merchants were still ranked lowest in the social hierarchy. She, however, was the most esteemed legitimate daughter of Duke Hua’s household, later chosen by the late emperor to be the principal consort of Mo Jingqi, then still a prince. Even at their closest, the most intimate he could call her was "Elder Sister Feng." And after he turned thirteen, he refused to even use that term anymore.

The Empress grew slightly uncomfortable under his gaze. It had indeed been twelve years since they last met. The once youthful and delicate boy had now grown into a strikingly handsome man. Even within the palace walls, she had heard of the reputation of Third Master Feng in the capital. She still remembered that rainy night before her wedding, when the disheveled boy had somehow slipped past Duke Hua’s guards to stand at her door, nervously asking, "Can you not marry Prince Qi?"

When she shook her head, the light in his star-like eyes dimmed. Back then, she hadn’t understood the boy’s feelings, thinking only that he was reluctant to part with an elder sister who had cared for him. Watching him cast her a disappointed glance before leaving in dejection, she had inexplicably felt a heavy ache in her chest, tears falling without reason. By the time she realized the true nature of his disappointment, they had already drifted too far apart. She was Prince Qi’s principal consort, the Empress of Chu, while he remained Third Master Feng—a dashing and renowned figure in the capital. Perhaps it would have been best if they had never met again.

"Ah Yao, how have you been all these years?" the Empress finally broke the silence after a long pause.

"Don’t call me Ah Yao!" Feng Zhiyao snapped in a low growl. The Empress froze, suddenly recalling how she had once called the young Xiu Yao "Ah Yao" as well. Though the characters were different, the pronunciation was identical, and every time she used it, Feng Zhiyao would throw a tantrum. Yet, she had never found another way to address him, so the habit stuck. At the memory, the Empress couldn’t help but smile faintly. Feng Zhiyao, clearly recalling the same embarrassing episodes from their youth, stiffly turned his face away. The dim lamplight in the hall made it hard to tell if he was blushing.

The Empress rose gracefully and said with a soft laugh, "You’re grown now—must you still act like a child? You wouldn’t have come to the palace so late just to see me. Is there something you need?"

Feng Zhiyao gazed at her beautiful face illuminated by the lamplight and suddenly said, "Leave this place with me."