Mo Li

Due to the emperor's severe illness, the entire palace had already taken on a gloomy atmosphere before the New Year celebrations had even concluded. In recent days, the faction led by Prince Li and the faction led by Prime Minister Liu had been openly and covertly locked in fierce disputes. All well-informed individuals were fully aware of the reason behind the emperor's sudden illness, and everyone's gaze was fixed on the golden throne in the grand hall. Even the urgent plea for reinforcements from Zijing Pass had been ignored. Mo Jingqi lay in bed, drifting in and out of consciousness each day, barely able to care for himself, let alone handle state affairs.

"Wang Ye," the eunuch guarding outside the imperial bedchamber huddled against the cold, rubbing his hands for warmth. Upon seeing the richly dressed man striding toward him, he hurried forward to bow, his face naturally breaking into an ingratiating smile. Mo Jingli looked down at the eunuch with an air of arrogance and said coldly, "This prince has matters to discuss with His Majesty."

The eunuch hesitated, looking troubled. "But His Majesty is currently..." Mo Jingli's sharp gaze swept over him, his voice icy. "What? Does this prince need your permission to see my elder brother?"

The eunuchs at the door trembled inwardly. They had indeed received orders from the Imperial Concubine and Prime Minister Liu to prevent Prince Li from entering, but the current situation in the palace was unpredictable. Prince Li's power was at its peak, and they could not afford to offend him. After a moment of hesitation, the guards finally stepped aside, forcing smiles as they said, "We wouldn't dare... Please proceed, Wang Ye." With a disdainful snort, Mo Jingli stepped into the bedchamber.

The opulent yellow furnishings of the room came into view, and Mo Jingli's eyes flickered slightly. As he looked at Mo Jingqi lying motionless on the bed, an indescribable sense of satisfaction rose in his heart. He knew Mo Jingqi was not asleep. Strolling forward, he stood by the bed, looking down at the emaciated man. A faint smile curled at his lips—the secret medicine he had obtained from the Southern Border was far more effective than the so-called "Five Minerals Powder." While taking it, there had been no noticeable effects, but once stopped, the withdrawal was a hundred times more devastating than the powder. In just a few days, Mo Jingqi had become a mere shadow of his former self.

After a moment's thought, Mo Jingli discreetly slipped a tiny medicinal pill into Mo Jingqi's mouth. Gradually, the dull, vacant look in Mo Jingqi's eyes sharpened into focus. When he saw the figure standing by his bed, his eyes blazed with fury, and his throat emitted a guttural rasp. Mo Jingli tilted his head leisurely and asked, "What does Elder Brother wish to say?"

"You... How dare you come here?!" Mo Jingqi croaked. Days without speaking or eating had left his voice hoarse and strained. Mo Jingli chuckled. "Why wouldn't I dare? Elder Brother, your younger brother is only concerned for you."Mo Jingqi glared at the person before him with hatred in his eyes, as if he wished he could bite him to death. Mo Jingli leisurely walked to the bedside and sat down, watching Mo Jingqi's furious expression with a strange smile on his face. "Imperial Brother, you really shouldn't blame me. If you must blame someone... blame Mother Empress. If she hadn't constantly instilled those ideas in me to suppress you back then, if she hadn't propped me up to oppose you for the sake of her own power, perhaps we could still be a pair of loving brothers now. Imperial Brother... do you know how much of a failure you are as a person? Look at you... Mother Empress wants to deal with you, your younger brother wants to deal with you, the imperial clan ignores you. Do you think they don't know your illness is suspicious? But have they asked about it? Blame yourself for being too harsh on the imperial clan, so now when you're in trouble, no one is willing to help you. Even your most beloved Imperial Concubine Liu and Liu Jia... heh, they must have had their own plans long ago."

Mo Jingqi's eyes widened with disbelief. Mo Jingli didn't care and leisurely asked, "Has Imperial Concubine Liu visited you these past few days? No, right... Of course not, Imperial Concubine Liu's heart has always been with Mo Xiuyao. Why would she come to see you now? Liu Jia is busy figuring out how to push Imperial Concubine Liu's son onto the throne."

Mo Jingqi's face turned livid with anger, wanting to roar loudly but lacking even the strength to do so. Mo Jingli continued, "Imperial Brother, you know... if I ascend the throne, you might still have a way out. After all... even if just out of consideration for Mother Empress and Mo Xiuyao, I would let you live. But if Imperial Concubine Liu's son becomes emperor, I guarantee you won't live past a month. After all, how could Imperial Concubine Liu become an Empress Dowager ruling behind the curtains if there's still a retired emperor above the young emperor? Imperial Brother, who would have thought your cold and aloof Imperial Concubine harbored such ambitions. Do you know why she wants to rule behind the curtains? Heh... she wants to control the entire Chu State, then compete with Ye Li for Mo Xiuyao. What a devoted woman, don't you think, Imperial Brother?"

"Gah—!" Mo Jingqi's face alternated between green and red before he finally spat out a mouthful of blood. Lying on the bed without even the strength to sit up, the blood stained his neck, front robes, and even the lower half of his face, making him look both terrifying and pitiful. The anger and sorrow of an emperor fallen to such a state were unimaginable.

Mo Jingli looked at him without a trace of pity. "Well? Have you thought it through, Imperial Brother?" Mo Jingqi stared at him for a long time before suddenly laughing. The blood-stained face combined with that eerie smile made Mo Jingli narrow his eyes in displeasure.

After gasping for breath, Mo Jingqi finally spoke, "Trying to force me to submit? Younger Brother... don't forget I'm the elder brother. Your tricks are just leftovers from what I played years ago. I really... shouldn't have shown you mercy back then!" Mo Jingli frowned, feeling slightly uneasy at Mo Jingqi's smile. At this point, he truly couldn't imagine what trump card Mo Jingqi might still have.Staring intently at the disheveled man on the bed, Mo Jingli's sword-like brows furrowed tightly. Mo Jingqi looked at him with a mocking smile and said slowly, "Jing Li... after all these years, you still only have one child under your knee, don't you?" Mo Jingli narrowed his eyes slightly, unsure why he was bringing this up now. Then he heard Mo Jingqi continue slowly, "What if I told you that you'll only ever have this one child in your lifetime? What would you do?"

"What do you mean?!" Mo Jingli's expression darkened as he stepped forward, grabbing Mo Jingqi by the collar and yanking him up from the bed, demanding sharply.

For a man, heirs could sometimes be more important than power. While many might sacrifice their children for power, it was usually because they had many heirs. Without any, the significance of all worldly power and status would instantly diminish by half. Ascending the throne only to have it pass to someone else's child was like toiling a lifetime to save money, only for it to benefit another man's son. Though Mo Jingli did have a son—the child born to Ye Ying—the boy was frail and sickly, not yet seven years old but already giving cause for concern that he might not live to adulthood.

Hearing Mo Jingqi's words, Mo Jingli's heart clenched. He glared at him fiercely and growled, "What did you do? No... you couldn't have had the chance to drug me?!" Mo Jingli was not a man without caution; in fact, he was more wary of his elder brother than anyone else. He took great care with his food, clothing, and daily affairs—there was no way Mo Jingqi could have slipped him anything.

Mo Jingqi chuckled, clearly pleased by his brother's fury. "Jing Li, you should thank me for at least leaving you one child. Blame yourself for refusing to be a proper prince and instead opposing me." Mo Jingli's face darkened, but after a long pause, he suddenly sneered, "As you said, this prince at least has one son. Believe me, I'll kill every last one of yours, one by one?!"

Mo Jingqi, however, paid no heed to his threat, smiling faintly. "Do you really think the child in your mansion is yours? Jing Li, you don't know this, but when Wang Fei first gave birth, I held that child in my own hands. He was a plump, healthy little boy—your sickly runt isn't even half his size."

"Bastard!" Mo Jingli roared in rage, hurling Mo Jingqi back onto the bed before lunging forward to choke him, bellowing, "Where did you take my son?! Tell me!"

Mo Jingqi acted as though the hands tightening around his throat didn't exist, his sallow face turning red as he half-closed his eyes, indifferent. In the end, Mo Jingli could only release him in frustration—he couldn't actually kill Mo Jingqi now. If he did, forget the throne, he'd become the most heinous regicide in history. Glaring at the man on the bed, Mo Jingli sneered, "Not talking? You think this prince has no way to deal with you? I'll kill one of your princes every day until you talk—sooner or later, you'll speak."Mo Jingqi opened his eyes and looked at him, saying calmly, "I'm about to die—why should I care about them? Even if you kill all my sons, so what? Changle is still in the northwest. Though she's a daughter, she carries my bloodline. And you... are fated to have no descendants. If you kill even one prince, I swear your son will be served on your dining table by the next morning."

At this point, Mo Jingli had to admit that when it came to ruthlessness, he was no match for his elder brother. "What exactly do you want? You know your condition is beyond recovery. Do you think handing the throne to Consort Liu will keep you safe?" To ensure absolute certainty, he would never administer the antidote. At the mention of Consort Liu, a flash of malice crossed Mo Jingqi's eyes. He lowered his gaze and pondered for a long moment before replying, "What I choose to do is none of your concern."

Not long after, an imperial edict was issued from the palace. Mo Xiaoyun, the eldest son born to Consort Liu, was named Crown Prince. Additionally, Prince Li, Mo Jingli, was promoted to Regent, entrusted with overseeing state affairs. The announcement naturally shocked the entire court, leaving many baffled about the Emperor's intentions. Officials who had been considering political alliances were now at a loss—should they side with the Crown Prince or Prince Li?

Prince Li's Palace

Upon Mo Jingli's return, Ye Ying and Qixia Princess hurried to greet him. Qixia Princess remained as radiant and captivating as ever, while Ye Ying appeared noticeably pale and gaunt in comparison. The young woman, barely in her twenties, looked as though she were nearing thirty. She held the hand of a boy who seemed no older than five, though those in Prince Ding's Estate knew this pampered Little Prince was actually about to turn seven.

"Wang Ye, congratulations on your appointment as Regent. From now on, you hold immense power," Qixia Princess said with a bright, delicate smile, her joy appearing genuine without a trace of forced flattery. Her demeanor softened Mo Jingli's previously grim expression, drawing a faint smile from him.

A flicker of jealousy and resentment passed through Ye Ying's eyes. She stepped forward with her son and said, "This concubine and the Little Prince also congratulate Wang Ye on your appointment as Regent..." She subtly squeezed the boy's hand, urging him to speak.

The frail child, pale and seemingly fragile enough to be blown over by a breeze, clung tightly to Ye Ying's side, visibly terrified of his father. Ye Ying gritted her teeth in frustration. She couldn't understand why her son, born to two bold and fearless parents, was so timid—even afraid of his own father. The child timidly raised his head and whispered, "Father," in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum before falling silent again.

Mo Jingli stared at the cowering boy, fury boiling within him, threatening to erupt at any moment. How could this weak, cowardly child possibly be his son?! He couldn't help but recall Mo Jingqi's triumphant gaze, despite his frail state, as he lay on his deathbed when he had left the palace. The memory fueled his rage, and his eyes burned with fire as they bore into the child.

"Wang Ye..." Ye Ying looked at Mo Jingli in confusion. By now, she could tell he wasn't pleased with his new title as Regent—in fact, he was seething with anger. Carefully shielding her trembling son, who was trying to hide behind her, she cautiously ventured, "Is something wrong?"Mo Jingli snorted coldly and kicked the child flying with a swift motion. After sending people to investigate thoroughly, he learned that the midwives attending Ye Ying during childbirth were all arranged by Mo Jingqi. Moreover, everyone in the estate had been replaced and disappeared without a trace after Ye Ying gave birth. Mo Jingli knew then that Mo Jingqi hadn’t lied—this sickly child before him was not his son at all. The boy bore no resemblance to either him or Ye Ying. Though not ugly, it was clear even at a glance that he would grow up to be an utterly ordinary-looking child.

"Wang Ye?!" Ye Ying shrieked. The servants and maids present, even Qixia Princess, were stunned into silence. Ye Ying rushed toward the child, who had fallen to the ground, vomiting two mouthfuls of blood. The boy couldn’t even cry, his breathing growing weaker by the second. Trembling with fear, Ye Ying hardly dared to touch him, only screaming, "My son… Quick! Fetch the imperial physician!"

The servants snapped out of their daze but hesitated, looking at Mo Jingli for direction. The Little Prince had been kicked by Wang Ye himself—whether to summon a physician was naturally Wang Ye’s decision. Besides, though most of them knew nothing of medicine, it was obvious to all that the frail Little Prince, already weak since birth, wouldn’t survive such a brutal kick.

"No one is to go!" Mo Jingli said coldly. Ye Ying looked up at him in shock, tears frozen on her face, utterly lost. "W-Wang Ye…"

Mo Jingli’s disgust for Ye Ying had reached its peak. This woman was nothing but a liability, and he must have been out of his mind to ever want to marry her. Because of her, he had even missed… He grabbed Ye Ying and dragged her toward the inner courtyard. She struggled desperately, her cries for her dying child never ceasing.

"No… Wang Ye, the child…" As Mo Jingli’s figure disappeared behind the screen wall, the onlookers exchanged uneasy glances, unsure what to do. Qixia Princess glanced at the child on the ground, a faint smirk of schadenfreude curling her lips. She waved a hand dismissively. "Wait until Wang Ye is done before dealing with this."

Dragged along by Mo Jingli, Ye Ying struggled the entire way, but how could a frail woman break free? She was hauled back to her room and shoved violently, stumbling into a table. Raising her tear-streaked face, she pleaded, "Wang Ye, why? That was our child! How could you be so cruel—"

"Silence!" Mo Jingli’s voice was icy as he glared at her. "Useless fool! You didn’t even realize the child was swapped, forcing this prince to raise some bastard of unknown origin for seven years!" What? Ye Ying froze, unable to comprehend his words. Mo Jingli sneered. "Still don’t understand? That sickly brat was never my son. He was switched right after birth!"

"H-How… How could that be? Impossible!" Ye Ying cried out. The son she had painstakingly cared for all these years wasn’t hers? Then where was the child she had given birth to? "Wang Ye… then… where is our child?" she asked frantically.Mo Jingli said bitterly, "It's in Mo Jingqi's hands!" Upon hearing this, Ye Ying collapsed weakly onto the chair. Over the years, she had been well aware of the strained relationship between Mo Jingli and his brother Mo Jingqi. If their child had fallen into Mo Jingqi's hands, would there ever be a day when they could get him back?

Panicked, she grabbed Mo Jingli's sleeve and cried, "Wang Ye, save our child! Ying'er begs you, please save our child! Wuwu... my poor, unfortunate child..."

Mo Jingli pushed her away in disgust. Of course, he would save the child—he had no choice. Coldly watching Ye Ying weep by the table, he found this once delicate and charming woman utterly repulsive. "From today onward, you are confined to the rear courtyard. Do not show yourself again. This prince does not wish to see you anymore!" Ye Ying was stunned. Having just learned that her son was in Mo Jingqi's grasp, she could not bear being placed under house arrest by Mo Jingli on top of it.

"Why... why?" Ye Ying murmured in a daze, staring at Mo Jingli. Over the years, she had long lost his favor. If not for their son, she would have been forgotten in some obscure corner long ago. The love and sweetness of the past now seemed like nothing but a dream. And now, was she about to lose even the little she had left?

Mo Jingli replied coldly, "If not for your stupidity, how could this prince have remained ignorant of his own son's whereabouts for so many years? Do you have any idea what your foolishness has cost me? My mother was right—you truly are a witless and incompetent woman. If I hadn’t married you back then..." His thoughts drifted to the gentle and refined woman he had met in Ancheng last year, and a pang of regret rose in his heart. After all these years, she remained as elegant as an orchid, graceful and poised. If it had been her... if it had been her, such a thing would never have happened.

With one last glance at Ye Ying, Mo Jingli turned and left without a shred of reluctance, leaving behind a stunned Ye Ying, silent tears streaming down her face. After a long while, muffled sobs finally echoed through the room.