Mo Li

Mo Jingqi’s expression was dark as he watched the visibly triumphant Mo Jingli before him. Although he had been forced to reconcile with this younger brother for various reasons, that didn’t mean Mo Jingqi had truly forgotten Mo Jingli’s past rebellion. Even now, this “good brother” of his still held vast territories south of the Cloud Ripple River. Unwilling to engage with Mo Jingli, Mo Jingqi could only shift his gaze to the Empress Dowager and the Empress, who had just stepped out of the palace gates, as well as Princess Fuxi and Princess Zhaoyang, who had just alighted from their carriage and were approaching the palace entrance.

He said coolly, “Mother Empress, Empress, why have you come?”

Before the Empress Dowager could speak, the Empress stepped forward, her robes fluttering slightly as she knelt to the ground and declared solemnly, “The Xu Family of Yunzhou has shown unwavering loyalty to Great Chu, their merits spanning generations. I implore Your Majesty to reconsider.” Several imperial consorts, though usually out of favor—all virtuous women from scholarly families—followed suit, kneeling in unison and echoing, “We implore Your Majesty to reconsider.”

Mo Jingqi’s face darkened, but before he could speak, Princess Fuxi and Princess Zhaoyang had already approached. Princess Fuxi pushed away the palace maid supporting her and knelt beside the Empress, saying, “What crime has the Xu Family committed that warrants their confiscation? Your Majesty, please enlighten us!” Princess Zhaoyang said nothing but knelt directly beside Princess Fuxi, making her stance clear—she stood with the elder princess’s words.

“You… you…” Mo Jingqi trembled with rage. However, given Princess Fuxi’s seniority and status, he couldn’t allow her to kneel at the palace gates indefinitely. He hastily ordered the palace maids to help her up, saying, “Royal Aunt, whatever the matter, let us return to the palace to discuss it. How… how have you returned to the capital?”

Princess Fuxi remained unmoved, replying calmly, “I am old and useless, and dare not hope that Your Majesty would heed the counsel of us decrepit elders. However, the Xu Family’s contributions to Great Chu are immeasurable. Even if they had truly erred, Your Majesty should show leniency. Though I am aged and foolish, I still beg Your Majesty to reconsider the Xu Family’s case.”

Her words left Mo Jingqi speechless, nearly choking on his fury. As he glanced at the growing crowd of scholars, officials, and even commoners gathering before the palace gates, his vision darkened—today’s events would not end peacefully.

Standing nearby, Mo Jingli was in an unexpectedly good mood. Back when he had taken the desperate gamble of rebellion, though he had only secured control over much of the southern regions, his position was far better than before. People said that as the emperor’s younger brother, he enjoyed boundless favor and honor. But with his elder brother’s temperament, how could he ever truly delegate power? In the capital, he had merely been a prince with a slightly more prestigious title.

Now, however, he held the wealthy lands of the south. No matter how furious his elder brother was, there was little he could do to him. In truth, he owed much of this to Mo Xiuyao. If not for Mo Xiuyao’s dominance in the northwest, which kept his elder brother in constant fear, he wouldn’t have been able to return to the capital so openly. Watching Mo Jingqi’s face darken with rage, Mo Jingli maintained a neutral expression, though inwardly, he was thoroughly pleased.

“Royal Aunt, Aunt Zhaoyang, Imperial Sister-in-law, what is the meaning of this? Please rise quickly. His Majesty is wise and will surely grant the Xu Family justice.” Stepping forward, Mo Jingli bowed respectfully as he urged them to stand.However, his attempt to dissuade only served to remind Mo Jingqi that not only were the scholars, commoners, and court officials of the capital opposing him, but now even his own grandaunt, aunt, and the Empress were standing against him. At this thought, a surge of rage rushed to his head, and Mo Jingqi roared furiously, "Xu Shi's treason is punishable by death! By imperial decree, the entire Xu Family shall be executed and their property confiscated!"

The proclamation instantly caused an uproar at the palace gates. Standing to the side, Mo Jingli quietly curled his lips into a cold smile. Those kneeling in protest still wished to plead further, but Mo Jingqi, already consumed by fury, preempted them, shouting, "Anyone who dares to intercede again shall share Xu Shi's fate!"

The crowd froze in shock. Suddenly, an elderly man stood up from among them and cried out, "Your Majesty, the Xu Family is innocent! I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!"

Mo Jingqi narrowed his eyes, a sinister glint flashing within them. He recognized the old man—the former Imperial Censor who had already retired from court. Even during his reign, Mo Jingqi had despised this old man who constantly admonished him about what he should or shouldn’t do. Thus, despite serving as Imperial Censor before Mo Jingqi’s ascension, the man had never been promoted and had retired three years prior.

"You have quite the audacity! Do you take my decree as mere wind past your ears?" the emperor sneered.

With tears in his eyes, the old man replied, "This humble subject dares not. I offer my aged life in exchange for Your Majesty’s mercy!" With that, he threw himself headfirst against the palace wall. The foundation of the gates was built of the finest marble, and as the old man struck it, crimson blood instantly splattered across the pristine white stone. He collapsed lifelessly beneath the wall—a retired minister who had chosen death to plead for the emperor’s reconsideration.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to revoke your decree," the Empress said, rising to her feet and gazing deeply at the man consumed by rage. Since his ascension, Mo Jingqi had grown deeply wary of the meritorious officials of the previous reign, and naturally, he also regarded her—the Empress from a distinguished military family—with suspicion and distrust. No matter what she said, he always doubted her intentions and never heeded her counsel.

At first, she had earnestly strived to be a virtuous and wise empress, heeding her father and the late emperor’s teachings to guide the emperor with gentle admonitions. But gradually, her heart grew cold. Yet today’s matter was one she could not ignore, no matter how disheartened she felt. If the emperor truly allowed the Xu Family to be purged, the Great Chu would surely descend into chaos.

Mo Jingqi stiffened, then suddenly bellowed, "Restrain the Empress!"

The crowd was stunned, but the Empress made no move—she merely stood there, looking at the emperor with quiet resignation. A faint sigh escaped her. Did the emperor think she, too, would resort to suicide to plead her case? As the Empress and his wife, how could she allow him to bear the infamy of driving his own empress to death?

Mo Jingqi stared blankly at her, his face alternating between ashen and flushed.

The Grand Princess, however, was far less restrained. She said coldly, "Since Your Majesty has spoken thus, you may as well arrest this old woman as well. I am willing to share the Xu Family’s fate!"

With the Grand Princess leading the charge, others followed suit, shouting in unison, "We are willing to share the Xu Family’s fate!"Not far from the palace gates, in a diagonally opposite pavilion, a half-open window provided a clear view of the distant palace entrance while keeping those inside hidden from outside view. The clamor outside the palace naturally reached the pavilion as well. By the window, Leng Haoyu leaned lazily against the frame, sipping wine from his cup. Across from him sat a man dressed in pristine white robes, his refined and elegant demeanor exuding an ethereal grace like an immortal, his brows slightly raised with a purity akin to a lotus blossom—none other than Xu Qingchen.

Xu Qingchen had known from the moment he learned of Ye Li’s safe return and her pregnancy that turmoil was inevitable, and the Xu Family could not easily extricate themselves from it. Thus, after swiftly concluding his affairs in the south, he hurried back to Yunzhou, where he held deep discussions with his grandfather and father before rushing to the capital. As it happened, he arrived just in time for this spectacle.

Leng Haoyu studied Qingchen Gongzi, his eyes reflecting admiration. In Leng Haoyu’s view, among the five young masters of the Xu Family, only this Qingchen Gongzi bore the greatest resemblance to Wang Fei. Both were usually amiable, making others feel as if bathed in spring breeze, yet when the time came to act, their methods were sharp and unrelenting.

“Given the situation, what do you think Mo Jingqi will do?” Leng Haoyu, as a martial artist, possessed vision far beyond ordinary people, allowing him to clearly observe Mo Jingqi’s expressions and demeanor outside the palace gates. Across from him, Xu Qingchen merely held a cup of tea, his expression serene and unhurried. He smiled faintly and said, “Mo Jingqi is ruthless but lacks decisiveness. No matter who set up today’s predicament, he cannot resolve it. Had he acted with ruthless determination from the start, executing a few, the rest would have quieted down. Had he not hesitated in dealing with Mo Jingli back then, would Prince Li have risen to his current power? Looking further back, had he spared no cost to eliminate Prince Ding ten years ago, would today’s events even exist? With such a temperament, even in peaceful times, he could hardly be called a ruler capable of maintaining stability—let alone now, as chaos looms on the horizon. He can only be manipulated like a puppet.”

A chill ran through Leng Haoyu’s heart as he regarded the composed man before him with awe. Qingchen Gongzi was renowned throughout the land for his brilliance and transcendent detachment, yet here he was, delivering such scathing and incisive remarks. Nodding in agreement, Leng Haoyu turned his gaze back to the palace gates, his eyes lighting up as he chuckled, “The show is about to begin!”

As the standoff at the palace gates continued, a clear and steady voice rang out from nearby: “Your servant, Xu Hongyan, greets His Majesty.”

The crowd turned in unison to see Xu Hongyan, not in official robes but clad in plain white garments, striding forward. Two steps behind him followed Xu Qingbai, similarly dressed in simple attire. At the sight of him, many exclaimed, “Lord Xu is here!” Though Xu Hongyan’s reputation did not match that of his father and elder brother, he had once been a celebrated scholar of Great Chu. However, confined to the capital in his youth as a minor censor with no real authority, he had not achieved the widespread influence of his father and brother, who had mentored countless students in Yunzhou. Xu Hongyan approached the palace gates and bowed respectfully to Mo Jingqi and the others, saying, “Your humble servant, Xu Hongyan, greets His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and Her Majesty the Empress.” Behind him, Xu Qingbai followed suit with his own bow.

Princess Zhaoyang frowned slightly and asked, “Lord Xu, what brings you here?”Xu Hongyan smiled faintly and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, how could this humble official not know when the Xu Family's affairs have stirred up such a storm in the capital? I am deeply grateful for Your Highness and everyone's efforts in pleading for the Xu Family. And also... Old Lord Li..." Gazing at the elderly man's corpse by the palace wall, Xu Hongyan sighed deeply, his eyes reddening. He bowed deeply to the body and said, "The Xu Family has received immense kindness from Old Lord Li, and we truly have no way to repay it."

After completing these gestures, Xu Hongyan turned to the crowd kneeling behind him and said, "Thank you all for pleading on behalf of the Xu Family. However... this is ultimately the Xu Family's private matter. It should not involve everyone else due to our faults. Please return. Xu Hongyan will remain here to respectfully receive His Majesty's decree." Xu Qingbai, kneeling beside him, added, "Xu Qingbai, the fourth son of the Xu Family, is also present."

Mo Jingqi sneered coldly, staring at the two of them. "So, you two are admitting your guilt?"

Xu Qingbai smiled faintly. "If the ruler demands his subject's death, the subject dares not refuse. If His Majesty wishes to confiscate the Xu Family's property and execute us all, how dare the Xu Family disobey? But may I ask what crime His Majesty wishes us to confess?"

Xu Qingbai and Xu Hongyan's composed demeanor only deepened the crowd's sympathy for them and intensified their dissatisfaction with the emperor. Mo Jingqi clearly sensed the discontent among the kneeling officials and imperial relatives. Realizing that further escalation might lead to unforeseen consequences today, he closed his eyes briefly, suppressing his anger, and said, "Take Xu Hongyan and Xu Qingbai back to the Censor's manor. No one is to see them without my order!" With that, he ignored the crowd's reactions and turned to enter the palace gates. Though Mo Jingqi appeared to leave in anger, the truth was that the torment of recent days and today's frustrations had left him on the verge of collapse.

Prime Minister Liu, standing nearby, waved his hand, signaling the guards to escort Xu Hongyan and Xu Qingbai back. Although the Xu Family had not been confiscated today, the rift between them and the court was now irreparable, and the Liu Family's rise as the foremost noble house of Chu was imminent.

Xu Hongyan and Xu Qingbai thanked the kneeling petitioners once more before being led away, and the crowd gradually dispersed from the palace gates. Observing the scene, Mo Jingli smiled thoughtfully and followed the Empress Dowager into the palace. Princess Zhaoyang watched the quieting palace gates with a helpless sigh and turned to the Grand Princess beside her. "Aunt..." The Grand Princess shook her head, her aged face weary, and took Princess Zhaoyang's hand. "The Emperor is misguided... Never mind. Zhaoyang, come stay with this old woman for a few days." Princess Zhaoyang smiled. "My residence is empty, Aunt. I would be delighted if you don't mind." Helping the Grand Princess into her carriage, the two carriages departed one after the other for the outskirts of the city.

From his vantage point in the tower, Leng Haoyu chuckled. "Qingchen Gongzi is truly brilliant. Lord Xu's departure this way is far better than leaving directly earlier." Not only had it undermined Mo Jingqi, but it also preserved the Xu Family's reputation. Now, it was the royal family who had wronged the Xu Family, not the other way around. Xu Qingchen stood up, glanced at the now-empty palace gates, and smiled faintly. "One more act, and we can leave the capital."Leng Haoyu asked, "How does Qingchen Gongzi know that Mo Jingqi will take action? What if he doesn't make a move? Would we have to stage a performance ourselves?" Xu Qingchen lowered his head to sip tea and replied with a faint smile, "No need. Even if Mo Jingqi doesn’t act, someone else will step in for him."

Meanwhile, upon returning to the palace, Mo Jingqi flew into another rage. In front of all the palace attendants, he mercilessly reprimanded several concubines who had knelt with the Empress to plead for mercy, intending to banish them to the cold palace. However, the Empress stepped forward and said, "Today’s matter was initiated by me. If Your Majesty wishes to punish, then punish me as well." Mo Jingqi was infuriated. Though he had always been wary of this Empress and showed her no favor, she was, after all, his principal wife, bestowed upon him by his late father. Before his ascension, they had once supported each other through difficult times. Thus, he had always granted her due respect. Hearing her words, Mo Jingqi sneered, "So you still remember you are the Empress? You humiliated me before the entire capital?" The Empress lowered her gaze and replied calmly, "The Xu Family is unlike any other—they are deeply tied to the fate of Great Chu. If the Xu Family truly harbored treasonous intentions, I would never dare oppose any decision Your Majesty makes. But tell me, Your Majesty, does the Xu Family?"

Mo Jingqi was momentarily speechless, meeting the Empress’s calm yet piercing gaze. After a long silence, he finally waved his hand in frustration and roared, "Everyone else, get out! As for the Empress, confine yourself to your palace and do not emerge! The affairs of the inner court shall be handled by Consort Liu." The Empress offered no resistance, rising to her feet and saying, "I thank Your Majesty. I take my leave. Sisters, come with me." The concubines were more than willing. They had voluntarily joined the Empress in pleading for the Xu Family earlier, and now she had saved them. Their gratitude toward her deepened. Since they had long been neglected in the palace, they held no expectations for the Emperor’s favor.

Watching the Empress lead the others away, Mo Jingqi swept his hand across the table, smashing an antique porcelain vase to pieces. Just then, a eunuch announced from outside, "Your Majesty, Prince Li requests an audience."

"Tell him to get lost!" Mo Jingqi bellowed. Consort Liu stood beside him, watching his furious outburst with cold indifference, a trace of disdain flickering in her eyes.

Three nights after the incident at the palace gates, the Censor's manor suddenly caught fire, followed by the sounds of violent clashes. By the time the guards from the capital’s patrol office and allies of the Xu Family from the inner city arrived, the entire manor had been reduced to ruins. Those who rushed inside found only one or two surviving servants; the rest had been reduced to charred corpses, making it impossible to distinguish between members of the Xu Family and the assassins. However, someone accidentally stepped on half of a burnt Palace Guard token at the scene. Though the manor was soon taken over by palace officials who drove away onlookers, certain rumors began to spread secretly in the shadows. The entire capital sank into an even more eerie and tense atmosphere.

Twenty miles outside the capital, on a secluded and deserted path, Leng Haoyu clasped his hands and smiled. "Lord Xu, Qingchen Gongzi, Fourth Young Master, take care on your journey."Two inconspicuous and plain-looking carriages were parked by the roadside. Inside one of them, Xu Qingchen smiled faintly at Leng Haoyu and said, "Thank you for your efforts this time, Young Master Leng. Take care."

Leng Haoyu grinned in response, "Serving Wang Ye is our duty as subordinates. How could it be any trouble? Several shadow guards and Qilin will be secretly protecting you along the way, so there’s no need to worry about safety. As for the servants of the Censor's manor, I will arrange everything properly. Please rest assured, Lord Xu."

Xu Hongyan nodded and said, "We appreciate your help, Young Master Leng. Farewell for now."

"Take care on your journey," Leng Haoyu replied with a smile, stepping aside to make way.

The carriages slowly moved forward. In the second carriage sat Madam Xu, but instead of her usual maidservant, she was accompanied by the Qin family’s young lady, Qin Zheng. Like Madam Xu, Qin Zheng wore simple cotton clothing, yet her beauty remained striking. However, one hand clutched Madam Xu’s sleeve, betraying her unease at leaving home for the first time.

Madam Xu patted her hand affectionately and said with a gentle smile, "Zheng'er, I’m sorry you have to endure this. In the future, I’ll make sure Ze’er holds a grand wedding for you."

Qin Zheng’s delicate face flushed slightly as she whispered, "Since I’m already betrothed to the second young master, how could there be any hardship to speak of?"

Seeing her reaction, Madam Xu felt even more tender toward her and said warmly, "Good child, if Qingze ever dares to bully you, I’ll stand up for you!"

"Auntie..."

At the beginning of the ninth month, assassins struck the Censor's manor, reducing the entire estate to a sea of flames.

Ten days later, Qin Zheng, the young lady of the Qin family who had been betrothed to the second son of the Xu family since childhood, fell gravely ill. Within half a month, she passed away like a fading fragrance.

Author’s Note:

Sometimes, reading historical records fills me with overwhelming anger—how could foolish rulers be so utterly senseless? Even ordinary people know right from wrong! Yet the truth is, they really could be that blind. Being an insider versus an outsider makes all the difference. So even though we all think Mo Jingqi is incredibly stupid, he continues merrily down the path of betrayal and isolation...