Mo Li

The Empress Dowager had reigned with maternal dignity and unparalleled nobility for over a decade. Even though Mo Jingqi harbored resentment toward her, he had always maintained a facade of respect. Never before had she been pointed at and told to "get out" to her face. Her expression instantly turned as colorful and complex as a painter's palette, twisted with humiliation.

"Your Majesty!" the Empress Dowager gritted her teeth. Her purpose in coming here was precisely about the issue of the throne, and she naturally couldn't leave so easily.

But Mo Jingqi no longer cared about anything. Pointing at the Empress Dowager, he shouted, "Did you hear me? Get out! As long as I live for even one more day, I am the emperor! Get out... None of you... None of you will get what you want!" Suppressing her fury, the Empress Dowager took a step forward. "This humble mother knows Your Majesty is in a foul mood. You may vent your anger as you wish. But I implore you to consider the matter of succession. Your Majesty must think of the princes and princesses."

Mo Jingqi couldn't help but burst into wild laughter—though it was more like a mix of weeping and hysterics, with blood tears streaming from the corners of his eyes. The sight startled the Empress Dowager, who stumbled back two steps. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, you—"

Mo Jingqi spat out venomously, "Go tell your precious son to give up. Even if the Great Chu empire crumbles into ruin, I will never hand it over to him. And that beloved son of his... let him wait to be buried with me. If he wants the throne, let him fight for it himself. I'll be watching... I'll be watching from the heavens as he... is cut off from descendants!"

The last four words dripped with such malice that even the Empress Dowager felt a chill in her heart. Unaware that Mo Jingli could never father children again, she took it as nothing more than a curse born of Mo Jingqi's deepest hatred. Yet, faced with the sight of the bloodstained, blood-tear-streaked, demonic visage of Mo Jingqi on the bed, she was thoroughly frightened. With no other choice, she staggered out of the bedchamber. The attendants waiting outside rushed in to check, only to hear Mo Jingqi's voice roar, "Get out! I need peace!" Hearing his voice still strong, they assumed nothing was seriously wrong and returned to their posts outside the door.

Inside the bedchamber, Mo Jingqi let out a bitter chuckle. His earlier outburst had agitated his already failing body, and the moment the Empress Dowager left, his pallor visibly worsened at an alarming rate.

"Heh..." Suddenly, a low, melodious laugh echoed through the room, followed by slow, deliberate footsteps. Mo Jingqi forced his eyes open, and the sight of the man before him instantly sharpened his fading consciousness. He strained to widen his eyes, staring at the figure before him—clad in white robes with silver hair, his handsome features framed by sword-like brows, exuding an aura of solemn dignity. The sleeves of his snow-white robes were embroidered with silver Dragon Pattern clouds, and a faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, clearing Mo Jingqi's mind of the haze brought by the stench of blood.

"Mo Xiuyao!" Mo Jingqi growled.

"Heh..." Mo Xiuyao chuckled softly. "Your Majesty, it's only been half a year, yet you've deteriorated to this state. Truly... most surprising."Beside Mo Xiuyao stood Ye Li in cyan robes, cradling a jade-like child dressed in black brocade. The five- or six-year-old boy was strikingly handsome and adorable, his pitch-black eyes darting curiously toward Mo Jingqi with an unprecedented liveliness. Even seeing Mo Jingqi's bloodstained, disheveled state didn't frighten the child. Instead, he leaned forward from Ye Li's arms for a better look.

"Is this your son?" Mo Jingqi asked.

Mo Xiuyao arched an eyebrow, lifting Mo Xiaobao from Ye Li's arms into his own. "Indeed, my son. Mo Yuchen." Young Master Mo Xiaobao (official name Yuchen) studied the man on the bed with curiosity—his father never used his formal name. Who was this person to warrant such an exception? "Father... is this the husband of that lady in white?" Mo Xiuyao ruffled his son's hair with a chuckle. "Exactly right. He's both that lady's husband and Wuyou's father."

Hearing the name "Mo Yuchen," Mo Jingqi's expression shifted momentarily. But upon hearing "lady in white" and "Wuyou," he ultimately sighed deeply, closing his eyes and swallowing whatever he'd meant to say. "Is Changle doing well in the northwest?" he asked instead. Ye Li replied calmly, "Wuyou has apprenticed under a divine physician. She intends to practice medicine and aid the world."

Mo Jingqi seemed surprised, waving weakly. "Very well... I know you'll care for her properly. Heh... Never thought you'd come back to see me." His gaze at Mo Xiuyao held an unprecedented calm—a stark contrast to the wariness and envy that had always colored his looks, even during Mo Xiuyao's lowest moments and his own prime.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "Naturally, I'd return to see you. How else could I account for this to my father, brother, and the tens of thousands of innocent souls lost from Prince Ding's Estate? To make time for this farewell, I spent half a year last year clearing my schedule."

"You..." Mo Jingqi faltered. Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Indeed, I knew you'd end like this. Back in the Southern Border... I watched from nearby as Mo Jingli purchased the poison. I even had Shen study its properties afterward." He tossed a small porcelain vial onto the bed. Mo Jingqi's trembling hands picked it up, revealing tiny pellets inside—smaller than soybeans. The sight brought him to bitter laughter; these minuscule things had reduced him to this, betrayed by his own brother. A lifetime spent guarding against Prince Ding's Estate and Mo Xiuyao, only to die by his blood sibling's hand. The irony was crushing.

Mo Xiuyao seemed pleased by his reaction. "Interestingly... even with this supposedly incurable poison, you did have one chance to survive. If I recall correctly, you once possessed an Underworld Flower. Isn't that so?"

Mo Jingqi's face paled, his voice hoarse. "The Underworld Flower... You took it?"Mo Xiuyao admitted generously, "Isn't it obvious? You must have guessed it yourself. If not for your Underworld Flower, how could this prince have fully recovered?"

Mo Jingqi remained silent for a long time before suddenly bursting into mad laughter, "Haha... Karma! This is truly karma..." Back then, he had poisoned Mo Xiuyao, leaving him disabled, yet Mo Xiuyao had taken his Underworld Flower to cure himself. Now that he himself was fatally poisoned, there was no Underworld Flower left for him. Was this truly retribution...

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and said, "Whether it's karma or not, this prince has no interest in knowing. However, seeing you in this state... brings me great satisfaction. Why don't you ask if I have the antidote? You don't even want to live anymore, do you? As long as you're alive, every moment, every person around you reminds you of how much of a failure you are. Do you know... what you did back then didn't harm Prince Ding's Estate—it completely freed it from centuries of shackles. What a pity... You won't live much longer, otherwise, I'd have loved to let you witness the consequences of your actions against the Mo Family Army. To show you... which of us—your so-called legitimate Great Chu imperial line or my Prince Ding's Estate—is truly more deserving to survive in these chaotic times..."

"Enough!" Mo Jingqi suddenly shouted. Summoning strength from nowhere, he reached out and grabbed Mo Xiuyao's sleeve. "Kill me... Kill me now as atonement for Prince Ding's Estate. Kill me!"

Mo Xiuyao took a step back, easily freeing his sleeve from Mo Jingqi's grasp. He looked down at him calmly and said, "This prince has no interest in your life now. If you want to die, go ahead and die on your own. However... I advise you to take it slow. Mo Jingli is still eagerly waiting, after all."

Mo Jingqi gasped for breath and stared at him. "Help me... Help me kill Mo Jingqi and the Liu family."

As if hearing something strange, Mo Xiuyao asked, "What's in it for me if I help you with this?" Mo Jingqi replied, "I will issue an edict ordering the Empress Dowager and all the princes and princesses—except the new emperor—to be buried with me. As an offering to the souls of your Mo Family Army. Is that enough?!"

"Your Majesty is truly ruthless," Ye Li murmured with a sigh.

Mo Jingqi fixed his gaze on Mo Xiuyao and asked, "Do you agree? I can also issue an Edict of Self-Reproach, revealing the truth of what happened back then to the world."

The bedchamber fell into silence for a long while before Mo Xiuyao slowly began to laugh. Holding Mo Xiaobao, he shook his head and said, "Prince Ding's Estate and Great Chu have no ties anymore. Your Majesty should pray for your own fortune. A Li, let's go back." Ye Li nodded and turned to follow Mo Xiuyao as they left the way they came. On the bed, Mo Jingqi tried to rise but found himself utterly powerless. From a corner of the chamber, Mo Xiuyao's voice echoed, "That small vial contains poison, but it can prolong your life by a few days. Whether to take it or not is up to you, Your Majesty."

On the dragon bed, Mo Jingqi stared blankly at the small vial in his hand, lost in thought.

In the winding underground passage, Ye Li walked side by side with Mo Xiuyao. Holding the drowsy Mo Xiaobao, who was blinking sleepily, Mo Xiuyao looked at Ye Li and asked softly with a smile, "A Li, are you wondering why I gave him the poison?"Ye Li nodded slightly. The medicine in that small vial was indeed what she and Mo Xiuyao had taken from Lei Tengfeng. It was the exact same drug Mo Jingli had purchased at the Southern Border Sacred Ground, further refined by Shen Yang. While it couldn’t save Mo Jingqi’s life, it could extend it by a few days if he took it. Both Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao had some knowledge of medicine and could clearly see that Mo Jingqi was already at death’s door, unlikely to survive past tomorrow.

Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "Mo Jingqi has a peculiar temperament—vindictive and unforgiving. These past few days, he’s been cornered by the Empress Dowager, Mo Jingli, and the Liu family. If we give him a chance to strike back now, he’ll surely give us a surprise." Ye Li smiled faintly. "Let’s hope it’s not a fright." She harbored some wariness toward people like Mo Jingqi—better dead and gone. Mo Xiuyao laughed. "We’ll just have to wait and see."

Early the next morning, news indeed arrived from the palace: the Emperor had summoned all officials to an imperial audience.

This announcement sent shockwaves through the capital’s nobility and high-ranking officials. The prevailing rumor had been that the Emperor was beyond recovery, with Prince Li handling state affairs in his stead during his illness. The sudden summons for an audience naturally left everyone unsettled, some even trembling with fear. Many speculated whether the Emperor had been feigning illness to test their loyalty—if so, they were truly doomed.

Mo Jingli was both shocked and furious upon hearing the news. His first reaction was disbelief. Before administering the poison to Mo Jingqi, he had tested it on others—it was virtually incurable. Moreover, when the Empress Dowager visited yesterday, Mo Jingqi had seemed on the verge of death. How could he possibly hold court this morning?

Among those summoned were retired officials like Old Duke Hua and other elder statesmen from the previous emperor’s reign. Mo Jingqi had always been wary of these old ministers, forcing most into retirement or exile early in his reign. The few who remained, though small in number, still wielded considerable influence in court, and now Mo Jingqi had called them back to the palace.

At the palace gates, the gathered officials and nobles wore varied expressions. Old Duke Hua, his hair and beard white as snow, walked slowly with the support of his son and grandson, greeted by countless officials along the way.

"Duke Hua," Mo Jingli, clad in the majestic robes of the regent prince, greeted him with deference.

The old duke squinted his aged eyes and stroked his snowy beard, smiling at Mo Jingli. "Ah, it’s Li Wang Dianxia. It’s been years—your authority has grown immensely. We old relics are truly obsolete now." Duke Hua had spent these years in retirement, rarely venturing out, so it had indeed been four or five years since he last saw Mo Jingli. Despite his current power, Mo Jingli had no desire to provoke the old duke lightly. Cupping his hands in respect, he replied, "You flatter me, Duke. My meager abilities are hardly worth your notice." Duke Hua chuckled. "Li Wang Dianxia has certainly become more eloquent."

As they walked toward the audience hall, Mo Jingli engaged in casual conversation. "Prince Ding has returned to the capital these past few days. Have you had the chance to meet him, Duke?"Duke Hua shook his head and said, "This old man is getting on in years, so news doesn’t reach me as quickly as it used to. I must thank Wang Ye for informing me of Prince Ding’s return. If Prince Ding still remembers the old ties between this old man and Prince Ding's Estate, I suppose we may meet again in due time. Now that Prince Ding has just returned to the capital, he must have many matters to attend to. We shouldn’t disturb him."

Mo Jingli smiled faintly. "The old Duke speaks wisely. Today, His Majesty has summoned you to the palace..."

Duke Hua chuckled. "It must be that His Majesty has recovered from his illness and, in his joy, wishes to celebrate with us old relics."

"Is that so?" Mo Jingli did not argue, only giving Duke Hua an apologetic look. "Old Duke, this prince..."

Duke Hua did not press him, smiling instead. "Prince Li is young and has little in common with us old men. Please, go ahead."

Mo Jingli cupped his hands in salute. "In that case, old Duke, take your time. This prince will take his leave first."

"No need to see me off," Duke Hua replied with a smile.

Watching as Mo Jingli strode away with vigorous steps, the smile on Duke Hua’s face gradually faded. His son, supporting him, said worriedly, "Father, His Majesty hasn’t summoned us to the palace for years. This time... it can’t be simple."

Duke Hua sighed helplessly. "If the sovereign demands a subject’s death, the subject has no choice but to comply—let alone a mere summons to the palace. And it’s not just our family. Remember this when we enter the hall: speak little, err little; say nothing, err nothing. If anything happens, this old man can still shield you for a while."

"Father, it’s all because your son is useless..." The eldest son of the Hua family, already in his fifties, held Duke Hua’s arm, his face filled with shame. If not for their incompetence, their nearly eighty-year-old father wouldn’t have to personally shield them from the emperor’s possible schemes.

Duke Hua waved his hand dismissively. "I don’t know how many more days I can protect you all. I’ll do what I can while I can. I suspect today’s matter may have something to do with Prince Ding."

"How so?" The eldest son was startled but kept his expression neutral, lowering his voice to ask.

Duke Hua said, "As Prince Li mentioned earlier, Prince Ding returned just these past few days. The emperor recovers right after Prince Ding’s return—do you think that’s a coincidence?"

"But... given Prince Ding’s temperament, he would never save His Majesty." They had all watched Prince Ding grow up. Even if they hadn’t seen him in years, his fundamental nature couldn’t have changed. Even in his youth, Prince Ding was never a gentle or magnanimous man—how could he have developed a forgiving heart over the past decade?

Duke Hua sighed. "I fear... His Majesty truly doesn’t have much time left."

"Father, are you saying His Majesty summoned us to the palace to..." entrust his heir.

Duke Hua waved his hand again. "Let’s go. We’ll find out when we get there."The Qinzheng Hall was packed today, with far more officials present than during the usual morning court sessions. Many young ministers noticed several elderly officials and imperial clan princes standing at the front whom they didn’t even recognize. They all vaguely sensed that something significant was about to happen. The more timid ones shrank back, not daring to utter a word. Those standing closer to the front exchanged whispers, sharing their opinions. Just from their positions, it was clear the court officials had split into two factions—one gathered around Mo Jingli, the other around Prime Minister Liu—each eyeing the other with hostility. A third, much smaller group stood apart, consisting mostly of elderly men in their sixties and those with little real power but noble reputations.

“His Majesty arrives!” a eunuch’s shrill voice rang through the hall.

Silence fell instantly as all eyes turned to the empty dragon throne above. Moments later, footsteps echoed from behind the hall, and Mo Jingqi, unseen for so long, emerged in imperial robes, supported by eunuchs. His prolonged illness had left him gaunt, the once-majestic dragon robes now hanging loosely on his frame, creating an eerie dissonance. His face remained sallow, but his lips were a startling dark red, his eyes unnervingly bright and sharp.

“We pay our respects to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!”

Mo Jingqi gazed down at his ministers, his voice eerily calm. “Rise, my lords. Summon the edict.”

Author’s Note:

Well… Mo Jingqi is the type to stubbornly charge down a single path, even if he somehow switches to another—it’s still a dead end. Also, even if Xiu Yao had ambitions for the throne, he’d never take it from Mo Jingqi’s hands. So no, Mo Jingqi hasn’t had a change of heart—he’s just stumbled into another dead-end alley.

I’m currently working hard on stockpiling chapters so there won’t be any breaks during the annual event. Ugh… Stockpiling is tough. Managed to write a bit more the day before yesterday… but then lost some progress yesterday. Still pushing through!