Mo Li

The incident involving Consort Liu at the teahouse naturally remained unknown to the common folk outside. However, it didn’t stop certain individuals from finding out. For instance, Mo Jingli was informed of Consort Liu’s disheveled state and distressed expression the moment she left the teahouse—news that swiftly reached what was once Prince Li’s Palace and now served as the Regent’s residence.

To be fair, while Mo Jingli wasn’t particularly likable either, he was clearly more adept at handling people than Mo Jingqi. Over the years, the imperial clan and royal princes had been harshly suppressed by Mo Jingqi, leaving them indifferent, if not resentful, toward the emperor. Even though everyone suspected Mo Jingqi’s illness was somehow linked to Mo Jingli, no one spoke up in his defense. In contrast, after Mo Jingli became regent, he treated his uncles and cousins with courtesy, significantly improving his relations with the imperial clan.

When the news arrived at Prince Li’s Palace, Prince Yu, Mo Jingyu, happened to be there for tea. Mo Jingli made no effort to conceal it—after reading the message, he handed it directly to Mo Jingyu.

Naturally, Mo Jingyu was pleased by Mo Jingli’s trust. However, after reading it, his brows furrowed sharply. He slapped the letter onto the table and exclaimed, “What on earth is Consort Liu—no, the entire Liu family—thinking? A concubine from the inner palace dares to openly leave the capital to pay respects to Prince Ding’s ancestors? Who does she think she is? And to block Prince Ding and Princess Ding’s path on the street, inviting them for tea—does she have no regard for the dignity of the imperial family?”

Mo Jingli sneered, “You and I both know Consort Liu. What else could it be but her obsession with Mo Xiuyao?”

Mo Jingyu suddenly recalled it too—back then, Consort Liu’s infatuation with Mo Xiuyao had been the envy of countless noble sons in the capital. Unfortunately, Mo Xiuyao himself had acted as if nothing had happened, and no one dared bring it up in his presence.

A young maiden’s admiration for a man might slightly tarnish her reputation, but if the match was truly fitting, it could still be considered a beautiful tale. However, for a married woman past thirty to cling shamelessly to another man—that was nothing short of disgraceful, an outright scandal.

“Has she lost her mind? With a wife like Princess Ding, how blind would Prince Ding have to be to even glance her way?” Though not well-acquainted, Mo Jingyu held considerable admiration for Ye Li, Princess Ding. After all, women like her were rare not just in their era but throughout history. The fact that she had stood unwaveringly by Prince Ding’s side despite his disability and the political turmoil in the capital was enough to earn deep respect.

Only after speaking did Mo Jingyu realize his words might have been tactless. He shot Mo Jingli an apologetic glance—after all, this man before him had also once been blind. Otherwise, a woman like Princess Ding wouldn’t have ended up with Prince Ding but would instead be the current Princess Li.Mo Jingli shook his head indifferently, his cold eyes slightly lowered to conceal the turmoil within. After all these years, he was no longer the impulsive youth who had rashly demanded the marriage annulment without thorough consideration. Over time, he had come to understand. Back then, half the reason for his haste in demanding the annulment was indeed his own doing, but the other half was due to the subtle instigation of his imperial brother. Mo Jingqi believed that since he was also the late emperor's legitimate son, the Xu Family might support him instead of Mo Xiuyao. Yet now, he had unwittingly driven the Xu Family into Mo Xiuyao's camp. If not for him... Recalling the green-robed woman he had seen in the inn's courtyard that day, Mo Jingli's heart twisted with pain, and his resentment toward Mo Jingqi deepened. That poised, graceful, and naturally dignified woman should have been his wife!

"Does Consort Liu want to ally with Prince Ding? If Prince Ding truly agrees... it would be extremely unfavorable for Prince Li." No matter what, no one in Great Chu would fail to fear Mo Xiuyao. Even though he now had no ties to Great Chu, the prestige of Prince Ding's Estate, built over centuries, was irreplaceable in the hearts of both commoners and nobility.

"He won't," Mo Jingli dismissed the idea. "Mo Xiuyao would never cooperate with her."

Mo Jingyu pondered for a moment before smiling faintly. "You're right. If Prince Ding had agreed, Consort Liu wouldn't have left looking so disheartened."

Mo Jingli chuckled. "Mo Xiuyao is inherently proud. He would never collaborate with an enemy. Even if... Consort Liu had little to do with the events of the past, her son is still Mo Jingqi's child. Moreover, though Princess Ding appears gentle and serene, her pride is no less than Mo Xiuyao's. I can guess a little of what Consort Liu might demand for cooperation—Ye Li would absolutely refuse."

Watching Mo Jingli speak with such confidence, Mo Jingyu couldn't help but sigh inwardly. To understand Princess Ding so well and speak of her in such a tone... Prince Li must have long regretted his actions. Unfortunately, some things in life, once missed, could never be reclaimed, no matter how much one lamented. After a moment's hesitation, Mo Jingyu still felt compelled to remind him, "Prince Li, now is not the time to provoke Prince Ding." Given Mo Jingli's past recklessness in annulling the imperial marriage for Ye Ying, Mo Jingyu worried he might act impulsively again over Princess Ding and provoke Mo Xiuyao beyond redemption.

Mo Jingli paused, then smiled faintly. "This prince knows his limits. There's no need for Prince Yu to worry. Indeed, now is not the time to provoke Mo Xiuyao. While they remain in the capital, we shall treat them with courtesy. No one from the Regent's Estate is to trouble them." Mo Jingyu nodded in agreement. His Prince Yu's Estate had always kept a low profile and certainly wouldn't dare provoke Mo Xiuyao.

"However, just because we won't provoke him doesn't mean others won't," Mo Jingli said coldly.

"Hmm?" Mo Jingyu was puzzled.

Mo Jingli's voice turned grave. "Leak the news to Mo Jingqi. Tell him... the man he fears most, Mo Xiuyao, has returned to the capital." Mo Jingyu fell silent, staring quietly at Mo Jingli: Are you trying to scare Mo Jingqi to death?Mo Jingli paid no heed to Mo Jingyu's gaze, coldly stating, "That woman Consort Liu has only Mo Xiuyao in her heart and eyes—she's not worth fearing. Have your people keep a close watch on that old man from Liu Jia. I hear Prince De has been getting rather cozy with them lately?" Mo Jingyu nodded, sighing helplessly, "Uncle Prince De is getting on in years, his vision must be failing. Still, since Consort Liu's son is the Crown Prince officially appointed by His Majesty, it's only natural for Uncle Prince De to befriend them."

Mo Jingli sneered, "Foolish! Do you really think Consort Liu would quietly let her son become emperor? That old man from Liu Jia would honestly play the role of a virtuous minister assisting the throne?"

Mo Jingyu frowned, "The Crown Prince is her own flesh and blood after all. Surely she wouldn't..." Mo Jingli looked at him and said, "You haven't been close with the palace these years. Why don't you, Prince Yu, go into the palace and find someone to inquire about how Consort Liu treats the Crown Prince compared to the other two princes and princesses? Once she becomes Empress Dowager..." Mo Jingyu said gravely, "What more could she possibly want as Empress Dowager?" For a woman, becoming Empress Dowager was already the most exalted position in the world—what more could Consort Liu desire?

Mo Jingli replied, "I fear in Consort Liu's eyes... ten positions as Empress Dowager wouldn't be worth as much as being Princess Ding."

"What?" Mo Jingyu was stunned, then suddenly realized the implication and violently threw his teacup to the ground, "That shameless woman!"

Mo Jingli raised an eyebrow with a smile—wasn't it just so?

In the Imperial Palace

The opulent bedchamber was silent, permeated with a faint aura of decadence and decay. Mo Jingqi lay on the bed, unable to move. His once handsome face had aged and withered by more than ten years. The man in his thirties now looked like a patient nearing fifty. He didn't know what poison Mo Jingli had given him, but he was certain it wasn't the Five Minerals Powder. That drug didn't have such vicious toxicity. Since stopping the medication, he had endured bone-deep, heart-piercing pain every day, and this torment hadn't lessened despite the long abstinence. Instead, it had caused his body to deteriorate further day by day.

Now, even the slightest movement sent waves of pain through every organ in his body. Mo Jingqi knew his time was short. But he couldn't accept it—he truly couldn't. His entire life had been spent scheming and calculating, living in constant fear without a single day of peace. Now Mo Xiuyao was entrenched in the northwest, Mo Jingli had effectively seized the southeast without openly declaring it, barbarian troops were knocking at the northern borders, and Western Liang and Northern Rong were watching covetously. With so many crises unresolved, Mo Jingqi couldn't let go. He didn't know what would become of Great Chu after his death, and he dared not face the ancestors of Great Chu.

"Someone..." Mo Jingqi called out hoarsely.The bedchamber was eerily silent, with no response for a long while. Mo Jingqi froze momentarily before suddenly bursting into laughter, tears streaming down his face as he laughed. Only after being poisoned had he realized how utterly he had failed as a person. Not a single member of the royal family spoke up for him, the court officials were too busy with their factional struggles, and even his own mother had visited him only two or three times before stopping altogether. Even the trusted eunuchs and palace maids who once served him had vanished without a trace. These days, he faced the empty bedchamber alone, as if watching his own organs slowly rot and die before his eyes. "Heh…"

"Someone! Someone…! I need water…!" Mo Jingqi rasped hoarsely.

A teacup adorned with dragon and phoenix patterns was handed to him. Mo Jingli, clad in a black python robe, stood by the bed holding the cup. He bent down to help Mo Jingqi sit up and brought the water to his lips. Parched, Mo Jingqi drank greedily, gulping down most of the cup before gasping for breath. Mo Jingli laid him back down, then turned to place the cup on a nearby table before slowly returning.

"Why are you here now?" Mo Jingqi asked coldly.

Mo Jingli sat down and replied calmly, "To bring you good news, Your Majesty. Someone who can deal with me has arrived in the capital. Don’t you think that’s good news for you?"

"Who?" Mo Jingqi had no patience for his riddles. At this point, he couldn’t imagine anyone capable of challenging Mo Jingli, who now held absolute power. Mo Jingli smirked mockingly. "Mo Xiuyao. Mo Xiuyao has returned. Aren’t you happy, Your Majesty?"

"Mo… Mo Xiuyao?! Why would he come back? Why haven’t you ordered his arrest?!" Mo Jingqi paled, his voice rising in fury. But his outburst triggered a violent coughing fit, leaving him hunched over the bed, his face drained of color. A flicker of pity crossed Mo Jingli’s eyes before he spoke indifferently, "Arrest him? Do you think I’ve lost my mind? The Chu Empire is surrounded by enemies. The northern border is already overwhelmed. If we engage the Mo Family Army now, Western Liang and Northern Rong will seize the opportunity to invade. What then?"

"Mo Xiuyao is our enemy too!" Mo Jingqi spat bitterly.

"Mo Xiuyao is only your enemy now," Mo Jingli said flatly, looking down at him. "You killed Mo Xiuwen. You caused the deaths of tens of thousands of the Mo Family Army at the border. You nearly killed Mo Xiuyao with your schemes. And you ordered the assassination attempt on Princess Ding in the capital. Who else would he come for, Your Majesty? When he heard you were on your deathbed, he rushed back to the capital. Do you know why? He said… he came to see you off. If you want Mo Xiuyao to leave Chu Jing sooner, then hurry up… and die."

"You—!"

Mo Jingli watched him coldly before adding, "Ah, I almost forgot. There’s one more piece of news. Your beloved consort, the mother of the Chu Crown Prince, has already sought out Mo Xiuyao. Do you know what she said to him?"Mo Jingqi half-closed his eyes, clearly unwilling to listen to him speak. He knew Mo Jingli's intentions—he simply didn’t want him to have peace. Mo Jingli didn’t care whether he was listening or not. "Consort Liu said that as long as Mo Xiuyao helps her deal with me, she’s willing to share the throne with Prince Ding. It seems... even without me, whether the Crown Prince you chose can ascend the throne is still uncertain."

Hearing this, Mo Jingqi’s expression changed drastically, his body trembling uncontrollably. He glared fiercely at Mo Jingli. "You... you’re lying!"

"Lying?" Mo Jingli sneered. "Who in the capital doesn’t know that Consort Liu was infatuated with Mo Xiuyao long before she entered the palace? If Your Majesty doesn’t believe me, why not send someone now to check whether Consort Liu is still in the palace and when she left? But rest assured, Mo Xiuyao has no interest in your beloved consort—he already rejected her. At noon today, many witnessed Consort Liu walking out of the teahouse in despair."

"You’re lying... lying!" Mo Jingqi roared. Mo Jingli couldn’t be bothered to engage further and turned to leave.

Before he could reach the Imperial Garden after leaving the emperor’s chambers, he encountered Consort Liu approaching from the opposite direction.

Gazing at the ice-and-snow-like beauty of Consort Liu, Mo Jingli’s eyes showed neither admiration nor warmth. He had despised arrogant and haughty people since childhood, no matter how stunning they were. Consort Liu naturally held no goodwill toward Mo Jingli either and said coldly, "Where is Prince Li headed?" Mo Jingli forced a hollow smile and replied indifferently, "I was just returning to my residence. And where might Imperial Concubine be going?" Consort Liu answered, "Just taking a stroll." Mo Jingli raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Imperial Concubine isn’t going to see His Majesty?" Consort Liu had originally intended to visit Mo Jingqi to see if she could uncover any of Mo Jingli’s weaknesses, but she certainly couldn’t say so in front of him. She replied indifferently, "His Majesty has not summoned me to attend to him. Wouldn’t my sudden visit disturb his rest?"

"Is that so? How considerate of Imperial Concubine. In that case, I shall take my leave." Mo Jingli gave her a mocking glance before walking away.

Staring at Mo Jingli’s retreating figure, Consort Liu’s face twisted with anger. How dare Prince Li treat her with such disrespect!

"Your Highness?" the eunuch beside her asked cautiously.

Consort Liu frowned. "Go and find out if Prince Li just visited His Majesty." The eunuch obeyed and hurried off. He soon returned and whispered, "Your Highness is wise. Prince Li did indeed just leave His Majesty’s chambers and seems to be heading toward Zhangde Palace." Recalling the Empress Dowager, who had always treated her with disdain, Consort Liu’s expression darkened further. She scoffed, "That old hag still dares to oppose me?! How delusional!" The eunuch flattered, "Your Highness is right. You are the Crown Prince’s birth mother. Once His Highness ascends the throne, you will rightfully become the Empress Dowager. By the way, Your Highness... this servant also learned something else. His Majesty just issued an edict lifting the Empress’s house arrest and additionally promoted Consort Zhou to Virtuous Consort and Lady Zheng to Worthy Consort."

"What?! When did this happen?!" Consort Liu’s face paled as she demanded sharply.The eunuch, aware of the gravity of the situation, quickly replied, "Just moments ago, when this old servant went, the decree was being delivered to Her Majesty the Empress's palace."

"How could this happen? Going now... no, it's too late! Why would His Majesty suddenly issue such an edict? Could it be... Prince Li?" Consort Liu's heart tightened, and she hurried toward Mo Jingqi's bedchamber. Though she had never regarded the Empress or the other neglected imperial concubines as threats, this Zheng Zhaoyuan had a son who was already eight years old—bright and clever, deeply favored by the Emperor. It was precisely because of this that, despite Zheng Zhaoyuan's lack of imperial favor, she had still been granted the title of Zhaoyuan and was now promoted to one of the Four Consorts as Virtuous Consort. If these women joined forces with the Empress, it would spell great trouble for her and Liu Jia.

Rushing to the entrance of the bedchamber, she was stopped by guards. Consort Liu's expression turned icy. "What is the meaning of this? This Consort demands to see His Majesty!"

These guards were all Mo Jingli's men, placed there specifically to make life difficult for Consort Liu. Naturally, they would not yield easily. The guard blocking her path said solemnly, "Your Highness, forgive us. His Majesty has decreed that only Her Majesty the Empress, along with Virtuous Consort and Noble Consort, are to be admitted to offer their thanks. All others are to be denied entry."

"And if this Consort insists on entering?" Consort Liu threatened coldly.

The guard remained firm. "His Majesty's decree stands. Those who force their way into the bedchamber will be charged with defying the imperial presence."

Consort Liu clenched her teeth, about to erupt in anger, when the distant announcement of a eunuch rang out: "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

Watching as the Empress, clad in a resplendent phoenix robe and radiating regal grace, descended slowly from her phoenix carriage, Consort Liu frowned slightly. Aside from the last time Mo Jingqi had suddenly fallen ill, it had been years since she had seen the Empress. The years of the Empress's confinement had nearly made her forget this woman's existence. Yet now, upon her reappearance, she was as radiant and dignified as ever, making Consort Liu feel instantly inferior.

"What is happening here?" the Empress asked, stepping down from her carriage and frowning at the tense standoff before her.