Mo Li

Ding Royal Palace

"Your Highness, Third Master Feng is here."

Upon hearing the guard's report, Mo Xiuyao set down his painting brush and frowned slightly. "Let him in," he said.

Before long, Feng Zhiyao appeared at the study door, exuding the air of a carefree nobleman. With a playful grin, he remarked, "With your wedding just around the corner, you can still sit here so calmly?"

Mo Xiuyao didn’t even glance at him, replying indifferently, "What brings you here? It won’t do you any good if people know you associate with me."

Feng Zhiyao shrugged helplessly. "It’s not that I wanted to come. Someone wishes to see you. Since the threshold of your Ding Royal Palace is too high, they sought me out instead."

Mo Xiuyao paused his brush, pondered for a moment, then looked up. "Xu Qingchen."

"Prince Ding’s network of information is indeed as formidable as they say," a voice chuckled from outside. Xu Qingchen, clad in pristine white robes and exuding an ethereal grace, stepped into the study.

The room suddenly felt cramped with the presence of three extraordinary men, each with their own distinct aura.

Mo Xiuyao gazed at Xu Qingchen in silence for a long moment before sighing softly. "I appreciate Elder Xu’s efforts."

Xu Qingchen nodded in satisfaction. "No need for gratitude. Even if it weren’t you, Father would still have made the trip to the capital. After all, Li’er… is the only daughter of the Xu family."

Feng Zhiyao raised an eyebrow and found himself a seat, watching Mo Xiuyao with amusement. He had always said the future Princess Ding had powerful backing.

Xu Qingchen clearly had no intention of standing on ceremony either. He took a seat in an empty chair and studied Mo Xiuyao. "I never imagined the once dazzlingly brilliant young general of the capital would become so… refined and gentle."

Back when Xu Qingchen rose to fame, Mo Xiuyao was also at the height of his reputation. The two had some acquaintance, but one pursued martial prowess while the other revered scholarship—their personalities were worlds apart, so they never grew close.

Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze, a faintly bitter smile on his lips. "A crippled man… Brother Xu, are you reopening old wounds?"

Xu Qingchen arched an eyebrow and smiled. "If Your Highness cannot even accept your own circumstances, how can the Xu family entrust Li’er to you? Besides, I don’t see any sign that you feel wounded."

Mo Xiuyao lifted his eyes, a trace of indifference in them. "Even if I did feel wounded, would Brother Xu refrain from mentioning it?"

Feng Zhiyao rolled his eyes at the two of them. "I say, are you two planning to keep spouting meaningless nonsense like this?"

Xu Qingchen offered an apologetic smile. "My apologies. But I trust His Highness will forgive the sentiments of an elder brother about to send his sister off to marriage, yes?"

Mo Xiuyao could only smile wryly. "Truthfully, Xiu Yao is rather curious… Why would the Xu family agree to marry Miss Ye into the Ding Royal Palace?"Xu Qingchen glanced at Feng Zhiyao, who gave him a lazy smile in return. Xu Qingchen understood that Feng Zhiyao was someone Mo Xiuyao trusted, though he didn’t yet know why Mo Xiuyao would trust the son of the Feng family, who clearly leaned toward the emperor’s faction. Xu Qingchen had no intention of digging deeper—after all, the emperor wouldn’t give them the freedom to choose. Prince Li was never a good option to begin with, and it just so happened that Lier disliked him as well. Even more coincidentally, the emperor actually agreed to annul the engagement. Why wouldn’t he? Though the emperor had meddled again by arranging another marriage for Lier, compared to Prince Li, both my father and I would trust Prince Ding more.

Feng Zhiyao raised an eyebrow. "Prince Li is the top choice for a husband among the noble ladies of the capital."

Xu Qingchen remained indifferent. "That doesn’t change the fact that he’s an idiot."

Was Prince Li an idiot? Of course not. But Young Master Xu clearly thought otherwise. So Feng Zhiyao could only shoot him a look that said, You’re ruthless.

"Is the emperor still unwilling to tolerate the Xu family?" Mo Xiuyao finally asked coolly after a long pause. "Binding the Xu family and the Ding Royal Palace together, then swallowing them whole. Isn’t his ambition a bit too grand?"

The temperature in the study seemed to drop abruptly. Feng Zhiyao instinctively reined in his usual carefree smile, frowning as he watched Mo Xiuyao.

"Ah… Your Highness has sharp eyes," Xu Qingchen chuckled, his slender fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his demeanor as elegant as ever. "His Majesty likely believes the Xu family and the Ding Royal Palace are no longer as powerful as before. Acting separately might alert the enemy, so why not… eliminate them all at once? After all, the Xu family controls Mount Li Academy, the foremost institution in Great Chu. At least half of the court officials are its graduates. How could a ruler of such grand vision and talent ever feel at ease?"

For some reason, Feng Zhiyao felt the phrase "grand vision and talent" sounded more like sarcasm coming from Xu Qingchen’s mouth.

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "The Ding Royal Palace has indeed suffered heavy losses. No wonder His Majesty is so confident."

Xu Qingchen smiled. "I don’t believe His Majesty should be that confident. Otherwise, how could the Ding Royal Palace still exist after all these years?" The Ding Royal Palace was undoubtedly a thorn in the emperor’s side. Back when it faced catastrophe, if not for the man before him—despite his frail health—stepping in to turn the tide, the Ding Royal Palace would likely only exist in the memories of the common folk today.

Feng Zhiyao studied the two refined gentlemen before him and couldn’t help but shiver inwardly. Turning the two families you fear most into in-laws… Your Majesty, do you truly hate your own empire so much?

"Say…" he interjected, "could you two discuss something a normal person can handle? I’m just a spoiled young master—why must you talk about treasonous matters in front of me?"

Xu Qingchen nodded agreeably, obligingly changing the subject. "Very well. I have a feeling there might still be some twists regarding Your Highness’s marriage with Lier. Of course, the Xu family, now far from the capital, can do nothing about it. So we’ll have to trouble Your Highness. Consider it… a show of your sincerity."

Mo Xiuyao inclined his head. "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Xu. I know what must be done."

Satisfied, Xu Qingchen rose to his feet. "In that case, I’ll take my leave. We’ll talk again when there’s time."Mo Xiuyao nodded, lightly tapping his fingers on the armrest of his wheelchair. A youth in brown appeared at the door. "Your Highness."

"Escort Young Master Xu out."

Xu Qingchen raised an elegant brow but followed the youth out without another word.

Only the two friends remained in the study. Feng Zhiyao looked at his companion with confusion. "Xiu Yao, why do I feel this Xu Qingchen isn't quite like the rumors suggest?"

"Is Third Master Feng the same inside and out?"

Feng Zhiyao fell silent. Who in this world didn't wear multiple masks to survive?

"What does Xu Qingchen mean by this? Does His Majesty in the palace truly intend to eliminate both the Xu family and the Ding Royal Palace in one sweep?" Feng Zhiyao asked.

"The Xu family leads the literati of Great Chu, while the Ding Royal Palace has commanded heavy military forces for generations. Naturally, they're thorns in his side."

"But why link the two together? Isn't he afraid you might actually join forces and pull him down from his throne? Is he that confident, or does the emperor have some hidden weapon?"

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "The Xu family would never rebel. He only needs to implicate them when the Ding Royal Palace meets misfortune. He knows very well—as long as Mr. Qingyun lives, the Xu family would never betray Great Chu. Even as in-laws, they wouldn't offer the Ding Royal Palace much assistance."

Feng Zhiyao shrugged inwardly, thinking he hadn't detected any signs of Xu Qingchen being the type to pledge undying loyalty.

"Have someone keep close watch on Mo Jingli," Mo Xiuyao said, picking up his brush to complete the unfinished painting.

Feng Zhiyao lazily fanned himself. "Mo Jingli is quite busy these days. Who do you think spread those rumors? When I first heard the gossip circulating, I thought Mo Jingli must have had terrible luck this year."

Without looking up, Mo Xiuyao replied, "The Xu family, the Murong residence, Duke Hua's estate, the Liu family, the Censorate, Chu Xiang Ge, and... this prince."

Feng Zhiyao was momentarily speechless. Fine, he shouldn't have asked. Having offended so many people, who else would be unlucky if not Mo Jingli?

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Dear readers... Happy New Year! May everyone celebrate joyfully and wish for all things to go smoothly in the coming year, with every wish fulfilled~