Mo Li

In the study of Prince Li's Palace, Mo Jingli's face was contorted with such overwhelming fury that even the most favored Qixia Princess dared not approach him. By the time Mo Jingli had finally vented his rage, the entire study was left in complete disarray. The advisors and subordinates standing in the corners naturally did not dare to speak, leaving Qixia Princess to muster her courage and say, "Wang Ye, this place is no longer suitable for discussion. Shall we move to the side hall?"

Mo Jingli snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and strode out of the study, with the others hastily following behind.

"Wang Ye, has something happened?" someone finally ventured to ask after they had settled in the side hall outside the study.

Mo Jingli replied coldly, "The Grand Princess and Zhaoyang Princess left the palace to see Mo Xiuyao." Everyone was startled. "His Majesty... what does this mean?" Mo Jingli sneered, "What else could it mean? Naturally, he sent the Grand Princess to plead with Mo Xiuyao. He’s been at odds with Mo Xiuyao his entire life, yet now, at the end, he’s suddenly had a change of heart."

Immediately, some frowned while others shook their heads. "Wang Ye, if this is the case, the situation is extremely unfavorable for us." For the Emperor to set aside past grievances and suspicions toward Prince Ding's Estate and seek Prince Ding’s help clearly indicated his intent to eliminate Prince Li's Palace. Mo Jingli scoffed dismissively, "Mo Xiuyao won’t agree to it. And even if he does... do you think I’m so easy to deal with now?" The crowd stared at the coldly composed man before them, momentarily stunned before realizing—wasn’t that true? Prince Li was no longer the same man from years past. He was now the regent of Great Chu, holding real power over the wealthiest southern half of the kingdom. Even if Prince Ding’s forces were currently concentrated in the northwest, even at the height of Prince Ding's influence in Chu Jing, dealing with Prince Li would not be a matter resolved overnight.

"What are Wang Ye’s plans? His Majesty likely won’t..." one advisor frowned. They had originally hoped the Empress Dowager could persuade the Emperor to formally pass the throne to Prince Li. But this idea itself was somewhat fanciful—given the Emperor’s temperament, he would sooner fight to the death than let the throne fall into the hands of the one who had plotted against him.

Mo Jingli frowned, pondered for a moment, and said, "Spread the news—make sure it reaches Liu Jia. Say that His Majesty intends to pass the throne to the Sixth Prince... As for the rest, Liu Jia will know what to do."

"Wang Ye is wise."

If Prince Li's Palace could obtain this information, Liu Jia would naturally not be far behind. Even before Prince Li's Palace deliberately spread the news, Liu Jia—and even Consort Liu in the palace—had already received word. In the palace, Consort Liu coldly dismissed the maid who had brought the message and shattered an exquisite white porcelain teacup in her hand. "The Sixth Prince... Mo Ruiyun!"

Tan Jizhi sat smiling in a chair not far away and remarked, "It seems His Majesty is already aware of Your Highness’s plans. I did say earlier that Your Highness acted too hastily. After all... even when something seems certain, there’s always that sliver of unpredictability, isn’t there?"Consort Liu gritted her teeth, recalling how she had returned from outside the palace a few days ago and happened to see Mo Jingli emerging from the Emperor's chambers. It seemed that from that day onward, many things had spiraled beyond her control. "Mo Jingli! It must be his doing!" Tan Jizhi frowned and said, "Your Highness, who is behind this no longer matters. What's important now is... what should we do?"

Consort Liu was deeply unsettled. She had never been adept at handling such matters. From childhood, she had been sheltered and protected in every way, and aside from her feelings for Mo Xiuyao, her life had been smooth sailing. Even with her intelligence and extensive knowledge, she found herself at a loss for how to deal with the current situation. She glanced back at Tan Jizhi and asked, "Do you have any ideas?"

Tan Jizhi curled his lips into a faint smile and said coolly, "In for a penny, in for a pound. Kill."

Consort Liu was momentarily stunned, then lowered her head to seriously consider Tan Jizhi's proposal. Having spent decades in the depths of the palace, even though she was favored by Mo Jingqi and her influence rivaled that of the Empress, she was no stranger to blood on her hands. Women like her, raised from childhood to be groomed for the palace, had likely never regarded human life with much concern. After a moment of contemplation, she lifted her head, a cold glint of murderous intent flashing in her beautiful eyes as she said calmly, "Very well. You handle it."

With the support of Liu Jia and Consort Liu's influence in the palace, Tan Jizhi carried out the task swiftly and cleanly. Before nightfall, news arrived that the Sixth Prince had fallen from a rockery while playing and was now unconscious. When the news reached them, the twelve-year-old Crown Prince was sitting with Consort Liu, keeping her company. She waved dismissively at the eunuch who had come to report, sending him away. The Crown Prince hesitated for a moment before looking at Consort Liu and asking, "Mother... should I go see Sixth Brother?"

A trace of disdain flickered across Consort Liu's face. She reached out and lifted the Crown Prince's still-youthful face, studying it carefully while masking the disgust in her eyes. She said coolly, "Why bother seeing him? The son of some lowly official's daughter—do you truly consider him your brother? Remember, you are the Crown Prince, and one day you will be the Emperor of Great Chu. Aside from your mother... everyone else is merely your servant."

The Crown Prince parted his lips, wanting to say something about his siblings, but as he gazed at his mother's exquisitely beautiful face, cold as carved snow, he inexplicably shivered and ultimately remained silent.

Consort Liu nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "That's my good son. Don't worry, Mother will ensure you become Emperor."

"Yes, Mother."

The Sixth Prince's sudden severe injury further deteriorated Mo Jingqi's already frail health. When the news reached him, Mo Jingqi coughed up blood. The imperial physicians attending him were secretly alarmed—the Emperor's ashen, lifeless complexion had suddenly gained a hint of color and vitality, as though he had regained some energy. But these experienced physicians knew all too well that this was merely a final rally before death. They quickly signaled to those outside, sending word for the palace's masters to come at once.

This time, it was Consort Liu who arrived the fastest—unsurprisingly, as the most favored concubine, she resided closest to the Emperor's chambers.The guards at the door no longer stopped her. As soon as Consort Liu stepped into the hall, the pungent smell of blood and the stale air of prolonged illness assaulted her senses, making her wrinkle her nose in disgust. Since Mo Jingqi had fallen ill, this was only the second time Consort Liu had entered his bedchamber. Months had passed without them seeing each other.

"Your Majesty," Consort Liu called indifferently.

Mo Jingqi's gaze remained fixed on the cold-faced woman in white before him. After a long pause, he finally waved his hand. "We have matters to discuss with Consort Liu. All of you, leave."

The attendants withdrew, leaving only Consort Liu and Mo Jingqi in the vast, empty chamber. One lay on the bed, the other stood at a measured distance, both regarding each other as if meeting for the first time. Mo Jingqi stared intently at the woman before him, searching for even a trace of emotion in her indifferent eyes. Yet, to his profound disappointment, her gaze remained as calm as if the man lying before her wasn't the emperor who had doted on her for years, but a complete stranger. No—there was one emotion visible: disgust. The emaciated figure of Mo Jingqi, barely recognizable, and the fresh blood on the floor that the maids hadn't yet cleaned—each detail filled Consort Liu with such revulsion that she didn't even bother to conceal it as she once might have.

"You've finally come," Mo Jingqi finally spoke.

Consort Liu frowned slightly. "Does Your Majesty not wish for my presence?"

Mo Jingqi gave a bitter smile. "We... truly did not wish for you to come... at least not so soon. Was it you who had Rui Yun injured?"

Consort Liu arched a brow, tilting her chin up as she looked down at Mo Jingqi with cool detachment. "That is hardly my fault."

"Why did you do this?" Mo Jingqi asked. "We had thought you cared for nothing. It seems... We were mistaken."

Consort Liu tilted her head slightly, a mocking smile slowly forming on her lips. "Why did I do this? I should be the one asking Your Majesty—since you named my son Crown Prince, why then do you intend to pass the throne to the Sixth Prince? What place do you leave for me and the Crown Prince with such actions?" A trace of sorrow and coldness flickered in Mo Jingqi's eyes. "It seems We have spoiled you too much over the years. So much that you've forgotten one thing."

"What thing?" Consort Liu frowned.

"Both favor and punishment are the grace of the sovereign," Mo Jingqi said. "The throne is Ours to bestow upon whomever We please. We may name any prince as Crown Prince if it suits Us. What We choose to give, you cannot refuse. What We choose to withhold, you cannot take!" Consort Liu stiffened, a flicker of displeasure crossing her aloof features. Proud as she was, she was accustomed to holding herself above all others—save for Mo Xiuyao—including the emperor himself. "What does Your Majesty mean by this?"

Mo Jingqi's smile turned sinister. "What do We mean? We mean... even if you kill the Sixth Prince, We can still pass the throne to another. Even if you slaughter every prince, We can still choose an heir from the imperial clan. As for your Crown Prince... you need not entertain any hopes."

"Why would you do this?" Consort Liu stared at Mo Jingqi, her beautiful face filled with incomprehension, as if he had committed some unfathomable act.Mo Jingqi burst into laughter, though the sharp pain in his chest made his laughter sound fragmented and broken. "Why? You'll know why soon enough... very soon. All these years, I’ve treated you well, but how have you repaid me? Did you truly believe my patience with you was limitless? Heh... You want the Crown Prince to ascend the throne—but is it really for his sake? You want Mo Xiuyao... Dream on! Even if I die... you’ll accompany me to the grave!"

"What do you mean by that?!" Consort Liu exclaimed in shock and fury. Of course, she knew exactly what Mo Jingqi meant. Although the Great Chu dynasty did not widely practice the custom of burying the living with the dead, there had been a few emperors who, on their deathbeds, decreed that their most beloved young concubines join them in death. She simply couldn’t believe Mo Jingqi would entertain such an idea. More than that, she refused to accept such a fate. She still had so much left to do—she wanted to win Mo Xiuyao’s love, to become Princess Ding. How could she possibly be buried alive for Mo Jingqi?

Mo Jingqi chuckled faintly, closing his eyes and saying no more.

This only confirmed Consort Liu’s suspicions. Her face turned deathly pale, but her mind raced. After a long pause, she suddenly turned and hurried toward the palace doors, only to collide head-on with the Empress and her entourage, who had rushed over upon hearing the news. The Empress frowned. "Consort Liu, what are you doing?" Consort Liu had no time to exchange words with the Empress. After a brief glance, she strode past without a word. The Empress frowned but didn’t bother to pursue the matter, leading her attendants into the imperial bedchamber.

News of the Emperor’s impending demise spread swiftly. Within half an hour, the imperial relatives—high-ranking princes, princesses, and nobles—had all gathered in the Emperor’s bedchamber. The once-empty hall was now crowded with kneeling figures. Even the elderly, such as the Grand Princess and Duke Hua, as well as those in awkward positions like Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, had been summoned. Unlike the kneeling princes and nobles, however, Mo Xiuyao stood leisurely in his white robes, silver hair loose, holding Ye Li’s hand beside the Grand Princess. His expression bore none of the grief—whether genuine or feigned—that marked the faces of the others.

After days of struggle, Mo Jingqi found an unexpected calm as death approached. Amidst the muffled sobs, he opened his eyes and immediately spotted the most conspicuous figure—Mo Xiuyao. With a faint smile, he said, "I knew you would come to see me off in the end." Mo Xiuyao arched an eyebrow but remained silent.

The Empress Dowager, seated at the bedside, let out a mournful cry and clutched Mo Jingqi’s hand, weeping. "My son, do you have any last words for your mother?"

Mo Jingqi gave her a strange smile before shifting his gaze past her to Mo Jingqi, the Empress, and the others standing nearby. Consort Liu had vanished after fleeing earlier, but Mo Jingqi no longer cared about her whereabouts. Finally, his eyes moved from Prime Minister Liu to the kneeling princes and princesses.

"Changle..."Among the imperial princes and princesses, Princess Changle was naturally absent. From childhood, Mo Jingqi had doted on this daughter of his. Not only because she was the legitimate daughter of the Empress, but also because she was intelligent, lively, and understanding. Even though Mo Jingqi favored Consort Liu, the daughter she bore, Princess Zhenning, still ranked behind Princess Changle. Yet, at the same time, he had been the harshest toward this very daughter—simply because she was the Empress's legitimate child, the granddaughter of the Hua family he feared, and thus he could not allow her to remain in the capital.

Hearing Mo Jingqi call out his daughter's name, the Empress turned her face away in sorrow. The aged face of Duke Hua twitched with veins bulging, but in the end, he said nothing. Mo Xiaobao stood beside his father and mother. Though he didn’t fully grasp the gravity of the situation, he could sense the sorrow and solemnity in the air. He glanced up at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li but refrained from mentioning how Princess Changle was doing in Li Cheng.

Finally, the Empress Dowager sighed and patted Mo Jingqi’s hand, saying, “Has Your Majesty forgotten? That poor girl Changle went missing in Nanzhao.”

Mo Jingqi closed his eyes, as if deaf to the Empress Dowager’s words. Everyone present—except for the indifferent trio from Prince Ding's Estate and the young, oblivious princes and princesses—watched the seemingly dying man on the dragon bed with concern. Even in his weakened state, barely able to lift a hand, he still held the power to decide the fates of most in the room.

“Empress…” After a long silence, Mo Jingqi finally called out.

Hearing this, the Empress stepped forward and asked, “Your Majesty, what are your orders?”

Mo Jingqi no longer had the strength to speak loudly. With great effort, he lifted his gaze to glance at the Empress Dowager. Reluctantly, the Empress Dowager rose and yielded her seat to the Empress, standing awkwardly to the side.

The Empress sat calmly by the bed and asked, “What does Your Majesty wish to say to me?”

With difficulty, Mo Jingqi raised his hand and pulled out a bright yellow silk scroll from beneath his pillow. Painstakingly, he placed it in the Empress’s hand and uttered, “The… the edict.” At these words, the eyes of everyone present narrowed sharply, fixed intently on the bright yellow scroll in the Empress’s hand. No one knew when Mo Jingqi had written this edict or when he had hidden it beneath his pillow.

“The Grand Princess… Duke Hua… Prince Ding… as witnesses… the Empress… shall read the edict…” Mo Jingqi spoke haltingly.

Hearing this, Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow in amusement and smiled. “Very well. This prince guarantees the Empress will read the edict smoothly.”

The Grand Princess also nodded. “Your Majesty, rest assured.”

“This old subject obeys.”

As if a great burden had been lifted, Mo Jingqi exhaled, his pallor worsening. He addressed the crowd faintly, “Leave me… I wish to be alone…”

The attendees hesitated, uncertain whether they should withdraw.

Mo Jingli, his face dark, stared at Mo Jingqi before finally stepping forward. “Where is the child?”

Mo Jingqi looked at him with a smile, chuckling softly.

Mo Jingli snarled, “This prince asks you—where is the child?!”

Mo Jingqi remained silent, smiling as blood slowly trickled from the corners of his mouth, flowing ceaselessly."Mo Jingqi..." Mo Jingli couldn't help but step forward to grab his collar. The Empress Dowager quickly stopped him, "Jing Li, what are you doing?" At this moment, the emperor was clearly on his last breath. If Mo Jingli's tug were to cut that final thread of life, regardless of the actual cause of death, Mo Jingli would never escape the charge of regicide.

Mo Jingli knew he was acting impulsively, but he had exhausted all means these past days trying to find any clue about his only son's whereabouts without success. If Mo Jingqi were to die now, this last possible lead would be lost forever.

"Can't Prince Li see? Emperor Chu clearly can no longer speak," Mo Xiuyao said with an amused smile. Though it was improper to remain smiling when a monarch was on the verge of death, no one dared to call him out on his impropriety given his status.

Mo Jingqi lay quietly on the bed, the blood from his mouth having stained the bedding and clothes around his neck a dark crimson. Yet his gaze remained fixed on Mo Jingli, his face wearing a strange smile. For some reason, that smile sent chills running down Mo Jingli's spine.