Mo Li

Two days later, when Mo Jingli sent men to the Chu residence again, the Chu family had already vanished without a trace. Only a letter personally written by Chu Junwei remained, stating that while the Chu family could not remain loyal to the ruler, they would not act against their conscience to harm the sovereign. As for the guards Mo Jingli had dispatched—no one ever saw them again.

Upon hearing the news, Mo Jingli flew into a rage, but by then, how could he possibly find any trace of Ye Li?

At this moment, Ye Li was already deep in the mountains dozens of miles outside Nanjing. Standing beside a few small thatched cottages, she surveyed the scenery before her and nodded with a smile. "This is indeed a good place to recuperate."

"Li'er sister!" Yunge emerged from one of the cottages and spotted Ye Li standing outside, smiling at her. Overjoyed, she immediately used her Light Body Skill to land right in front of Ye Li. "Li'er sister, how did you get in?"

Ye Li chuckled. "The formation outside is quite impressive. It took me over an hour to make my way in."

Yunge blinked in confusion. "But I didn’t sense anyone entering."

Ye Li patted her rosy cheeks affectionately. "How is elder brother doing?"

"Oh no! I forgot—Xu Qingchen’s medicine!" Yunge exclaimed in dismay. Without waiting for Ye Li, she hurriedly dashed back into the cottage. She had just finished brewing the medicine when she heard movement outside and rushed out to check, nearly forgetting that Xu Qingchen’s medicine had already been poured. If he didn’t drink it soon, it would turn cold.

Watching Yunge carry a bowl of medicine into another cottage, Ye Li raised an eyebrow and followed.

"Xu Qingchen, time for your medicine," Yunge announced as she entered his room. Xu Qingchen set down the book in his hands and frowned at the bowl in her grasp. "Yunge, can’t you really make all these into medicinal pills?"

After this injury, Qingchen Gongzi had discovered, to his dismay, that he was actually afraid of taking medicine. In the past, he had never feared it, but this time, for over half a month, he had been drinking medicine three times a day. Moreover, the medicinal pills Yunge made were fragrant, sweet, and melted in the mouth, but the brewed concoction was unbelievably bitter. Xu Qingchen could swear he had never tasted anything so vile in his life. And yet… he had seen the prescription Yunge used—it was the most common one for internal injuries. With his slight knowledge of medicine, he silently calculated that even if an extra handful of coptis were added during brewing, it still wouldn’t be as unbearable as the bowl before him.

"That won’t do! Although medicinal pills are tasty and easy to store, their efficacy is much weaker than freshly brewed medicine," Yunge firmly rejected his suggestion. "This isn’t some complicated or time-consuming prescription, so it’s better to brew it. That way, your injuries will heal faster."

Looking at the young girl before him, her eyes curved in a smile, Xu Qingchen sighed helplessly and took the bowl. Raising it to his lips, he downed it in one go.

Yunge nodded approvingly. "Xu Qingchen, you’re the fastest medicine-drinker I’ve ever met."

She was well aware of how awful the medicine tasted—after all, she had grown up drinking her father’s concoctions. Every time she had to take it, she would dawdle endlessly. And most of the people her father had rescued in the mountains had stubbornly refused to drink his brews."If you know it tastes bad, you should brew the medicine to make it more palatable," Xu Qingchen said with a bitter smile.

"That won't do! Father said most flavor-masking herbs neutralize medicinal properties. Besides..." Yunge grinned at him, "knowing the medicine tastes awful makes you behave better—fewer injuries, fewer illnesses."

Qingchen Gongzi very much wanted to say, You're overthinking this—I just wish you could brew it to taste normal.

"Haha, Elder Brother, who would've thought the renowned Qingchen Gongzi is afraid of bitter medicine?" Outside the door, Ye Li finally couldn't hold back her laughter.

"Li'er?" Xu Qingchen looked up toward the entrance. Ye Li stepped inside, glancing around. Though it was just a simple mountain cottage with only a bed, a table, and two stools for furnishings, everything was neatly arranged. On the table sat a somewhat crude yet endearingly carved wooden vase holding two plain wildflowers. The room was filled with a faint medicinal aroma.

Turning her gaze to Xu Qingchen, she noted that—perhaps because he'd been drinking more medicine than eating meals lately—Qingchen Gongzi's peerlessly handsome face looked slightly thinner, though his complexion was good. He didn't seem like someone recovering from internal injuries at all, clearly thanks to young Yunge's excellent care.

Noticing Ye Li's arrival, Yunge suddenly remembered she'd left her guest outside. Flushing slightly, she smiled apologetically at Ye Li and chirped, "Sister Li'er, please sit! I'll make tea for you."

"Thank you, Yunge." Ye Li smiled, sitting on the stool by the bed as she watched Yunge wave and dart out of the cottage to prepare tea.

"She's such a lovely girl. Don't you think so, Elder Brother?" Ye Li remarked.

Xu Qingchen chuckled and nodded. "Indeed quite amusing." Ye Li blinked in mild embarrassment—so in Qingchen Gongzi's eyes, young girls weren't categorized as pretty or adorable, but as interesting or uninteresting?

"How's your injury, Elder Brother?" Ye Li asked with concern. Xu Qingchen touched his chest lightly and smiled. "Though Yunge's medicine tastes terrible, it's remarkably effective. I'm nearly recovered."

Ye Li grinned. "Bitter medicine cures sickness."

For once, Qingchen Gongzi's perpetually ethereal expression twisted into rare distress as he sighed helplessly, "I'm beginning to regret my earlier decision. Yunge says I must continue taking medicine for three more months to fully heal the internal injury." Three months of medicine wasn't frightening—what terrified him was that no matter what prescription it was, any medicine brewed by Yunge would inevitably taste exactly the same: impossibly foul, the absolute worst it could possibly be. Even Yunge herself couldn't make it worse, as it had already reached the limits of unpalatability. And given Yunge's enthusiasm, she would undoubtedly insist on preparing his medicine personally. Qingchen Gongzi deeply felt this was a "blessing" he couldn't endure.

Watching Xu Qingchen's conflicted expression, Ye Li couldn't help covering her mouth to stifle a laugh. "How rare to see you like this, Elder Brother. Yunge means well—wouldn't refusing her medicine hurt her feelings?" Ye Li's senses were sharper than most—she'd detected the bizarre, potent odor emanating from Xu Qingchen's bowl even outside the door. This only strengthened her resolve to have Yunge continue overseeing her elder brother's recovery. Truly, it was too precious seeing him like this.Watching Ye Li's rare teasing smile, Xu Qingchen shook his head helplessly and asked, "Weren't you supposed to be handling affairs in Nanjing City? What brings you here today? Did something happen?"

Ye Li sighed, "Big Brother truly sees through everything. Indeed, something has occurred."

"Oh?" Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow in question. Ye Li recounted the events at the Regent's Estate in detail. Mo Jingli's sudden intention to depose Mo Suoyun and declare himself emperor had genuinely taken her by surprise.

Xu Qingchen chuckled, "Li'er, you're still too soft-hearted. What would it have mattered if you'd written the abdication edict for him? Mo Jingli's desire to proclaim himself emperor now is mostly just to gain an advantage over Prince Ding's Estate in future battlefield confrontations. As long as the Chu family later explains that there was never any Chu Junwei, it wouldn't cause any real issues."

Ye Li smiled wryly and shook her head, "Perhaps... If I had written the edict that day, you'd probably be hearing news of Mo Jingli's ascension to the throne now." Xu Qingchen sighed softly, "Mo Jingli is still too impatient. Li'er, do you pity that child?"

"Pity is useless. That child is already beyond cure. Even if we saved him, he wouldn't live much longer," Ye Li shook her head. Though she said this, she knew in her heart she couldn't bring herself to harm an innocent child who understood nothing. Xu Qingchen looked at her with compassion, "You and Mo Xiuyao have such different temperaments. I truly wonder how you've managed to live in such harmony all these years."

At their core, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao were fundamentally different. Ye Li could be ruthless toward villains but easily softened toward the innocent. Mo Xiuyao was different—outwardly gentle, yet he wouldn't hesitate to involve anyone if it served his purposes. Who could say Mo Xiuyao hadn't played a hand in the current relationship between Mo Jingli and Mo Suoyun? If Mo Xiuyao had truly wanted to investigate back then, how could he have failed to uncover Mo Suoyun's true identity? It was likely he'd already suspected and deliberately avoided looking into it.

Ye Li smiled gently, "Xiu Yao is Xiu Yao, and I am I. Even as husband and wife, we don't have to think alike. As long as we understand and accept each other, that's enough."

"Then how do you plan to deal with Mo Jingli? Will you just let him continue like this?"

Ye Li gave a helpless, bitter smile, "Does Big Brother really think I could overthrow Mo Jingli's years of rule in Jiangnan within a single month?" Causing trouble for Mo Jingli would be easy, but directly removing him from power in Jiangnan would be difficult even if Mo Xiuyao came personally in the short term.

Xu Qingchen smiled knowingly at Ye Li, "Li'er, what are you planning?" After so many years together, he understood her well. It was impossible that she intended to do nothing. Ye Li pondered, "I'll tell Ye Ying about Mo Suoyun's true identity."

"Li'er, you're still too soft-hearted. No wonder Prince Ding worries about you," Xu Qingchen sighed softly.

Ye Li shook her head, "No, I want to gamble... In Mo Jingli's eyes, a son is less important than the throne. Big Brother, is Yunge's medical skill exceptional?" Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow, "You want Yunge to save Mo Suoyun?"Ye Li lowered her eyes and said, "Mo Suoyun's illness is beyond the reach of medicine now. I just want to prolong his life a little longer. I also want to see what choice Mo Jingli will make if Mo Suoyun doesn’t die anytime soon."

Xu Qingchen nodded and replied, "I’ll ask Yunge about it later."

"What do you want to ask me?" Yunge walked in with a light step, carrying a pot of tea. She smiled somewhat shyly at Ye Li and said, "We don’t have good tea at home, so please make do with this, Sister Li'er." The tea Yunge brought wasn’t any famous variety but a homemade floral tea. The faint fragrance of flowers filled the air, and Ye Li took a deep breath, smiling. "It smells wonderful."

"I’m glad you like it, Sister Li. What did you want to ask me?" Seeing that Ye Li didn’t disdain her simple floral tea, Yunge was delighted. Though she rarely interacted with people, she had been to the city before and knew that wealthy folks living in grand mansions often looked down on rustic things from the mountains. Moreover, Sister Li was a noble Wang Fei. If Ye Li knew what she was thinking, she would surely introduce Zhang Baiwan to her. At the very least, Zhang Baiwan would never scorn Yunge’s floral tea—he might even beg her to supply it for free all year round.

Xu Qingchen said, "Li'er would like to ask you to save a child. Would you be willing to go, Yunge?"

"Of course," Yunge agreed without hesitation. Xu Qingchen looked at her in surprise. "You’re really willing?"

Yunge tilted her head in confusion. "Father says a physician should have the heart of a parent. Why wouldn’t I be willing?"

Xu Qingchen suddenly felt rather vulgar. Indeed, having too many schemes in mind wasn’t always a good thing. Seeing Yunge and her father living in seclusion here, he had assumed that her father had given up practicing medicine due to some past misfortune...

"Thank you, Yunge," Xu Qingchen said with a warm smile.

Yunge smiled faintly. "No need to thank me. I don’t even know if I can cure him. Just don’t blame me if my skills aren’t up to par. I’ll do my best!" Xu Qingchen nodded. "In that case, since I was planning to take you to meet someone anyway, we can head to the city together later."

Yunge nodded obediently without objection. "I’ll go prepare my things."

They couldn’t return to the Chu residence, so Ye Li stayed overnight at Yunge’s home. The next day, the group quietly packed their belongings and returned to Nanjing City. This time, they settled in an inconspicuous mansion located in a somewhat noisy part of the city. Ye Li could no longer appear as Chu Junwei. Instead, she transformed into a delicate-looking young woman, accompanying her frail elder brother and younger sister to Nanjing for recuperation.

This area was the most bustling and chaotic part of Nanjing, so their low-key arrival drew no attention. After settling in, Qin Feng and Lin Han personally escorted Yunge to Prince Li’s Palace that very night to treat Mo Suoyun.

In the evening, Ye Li and Xu Qingchen sat in the study playing chess. Ye Li placed a piece slowly and glanced at Xu Qingchen with a soft smile. "Brother, your injuries haven’t fully healed yet. You should rest in your room. I’ll wait here for Yunge’s return."Xu Qingchen shook his head and said, "It's fine. They should be back soon. I'll wait a while longer to see what exactly happened. You should try not to go out these days—Mo Jingli's people are probably still investigating in secret." Ye Li smiled and replied, "Li'er understands. Big Brother needn't worry. Qin Feng and Lin Han are both reliable in handling matters, and besides, Yunge is also highly skilled. Nothing will go wrong."

Xu Qingchen slowly placed a chess piece and raised his head to glance at her with an amused expression. "Who said I was worried?"

Ye Li shrugged nonchalantly and grinned. "Maybe I was the one who was a little worried."

Xu Qingchen shook his head and said nothing more.

A faint sound came from outside the door, and soon the study door was pushed open as Qin Feng and the other two filed in. Yunge's clear, large eyes were especially bright, her small face flushed—clearly nervous from having never done something like sneaking into someone else's residence late at night before.

Ye Li pulled Yunge to sit down and personally poured her a cup of tea. "You've worked hard, Yunge. Did you encounter any danger?"

Yunge smiled. "Not at all! Brother Qin Feng and Brother Lin Han are both amazing. The guards at the Regent's Palace didn't even notice us." In truth, Qin Feng and Lin Han might not have surpassed Yunge in Light Body Skill, but their experience in nighttime infiltration was leagues ahead of hers. If Yunge had gone alone as a novice, she would likely have been chased all over the place.

Ye Li gently patted the girl's head with a faint smile. "How is the child's condition?"

At her words, Yunge's face immediately fell. She looked at Ye Li with teary eyes. After a moment of thought, Ye Li asked, "Not good?" Yunge nodded dejectedly. "That child was already born with a weak constitution and probably didn't have a good childhood. The poison in his body has completely ruined his health. Even without the poison, he might not have lived past twenty. But now... after enduring so much shock for so long, even if I detoxify him, he'll need extremely careful nurturing. The slightest fright could be fatal. But Brother Qin and Brother Lin said we couldn't bring him back." Once she started talking about her patient, Yunge grew a little agitated. Having lived secluded in the mountains for years, she hadn't experienced much of the world. Seeing such a pitiful child naturally stirred her sympathy.

Ye Li nodded. "That child is the current emperor. Taking him out of Prince Li's Palace would cause a major incident."

Yunge nodded. She was kind-hearted but not ignorant. After a pause, she said, "I'll make some medicinal pills tonight. Sister Li, you can give them to the child tomorrow. They won't cure his illness, but they can at least make him more comfortable." Ye Li replied softly, "You're tired tonight—there's no rush. You can prepare them tomorrow. I'll have someone gather the herbs you need later."

"Alright... Xu Qingchen..." In truth, among everyone in the room, Yunge was still most familiar with Xu Qingchen, so she couldn't help but glance at him. Ultimately, her trust in Ye Li, Qin Feng, and Lin Han—whom she had only met twice—was built on the fact that they were people Xu Qingchen knew.

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "Yunge must be tired too. Go rest early.""Oh. Then... you all should get some rest too." Yunge nodded obediently and followed the maid waiting at the door back to her own room.

Watching Yunge leave, the study door closed again, and silence fell within.

After a long while, Xu Qingchen finally spoke, "Li'er, don't overthink it. What's done is done... Prince Ding's Estate hasn't wronged that child either." Mo Suoyun was indeed innocent and pitiable, but in these turbulent times, which commoner wasn't innocent or pitiable? At least Ye Li had given Mo Jingli and Ye Ying a chance to make amends. Ye Li smiled faintly, "Elder Brother needn't console me. I understand everything."

That night, a note silently appeared by Ye Ying's bedside. On it were just three simple words—Mo Suoyun.

Ye Ying held the note in a daze for a long time, her face gradually growing paler.

"Wang Ye! Wang Ye?!"

Early in the morning, Ye Ying's urgent cries came from outside Mo Jingli's study. Mo Jingli, who was handling official matters, frowned in displeasure. He was already in a bad mood due to Chu Junwei's sudden disappearance within Nanjing City, and at this moment, he truly had no patience to deal with Ye Ying. He had thought Nanjing was firmly under his control, but in less than a month, both Chu Junwei and Dongfang You had vanished right under his nose. How could this not infuriate him and put him on guard?

"Wang Fei, Wang Ye has ordered not to see anyone," came the guard's refusal from outside the door.

"Step aside! This consort has urgent matters to discuss with Wang Ye!" Ye Ying angrily rebuked.

"Wang Fei..."

Hearing Ye Ying's voice, which seemed determined not to leave without achieving her goal, Mo Jingli set down his brush and called out, "Let her in."

Ye Ying pushed the door open and entered, not even bothering to greet Mo Jingli properly before rushing forward. "Wang Ye! I've found our child!" Mo Jingli was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure, replying indifferently, "What nonsense are you spouting now?" It wasn't that Mo Jingli didn't believe Ye Ying, but she spent all her time confined within Prince Li's Palace with no resources at her disposal. If even Mo Jingli had no leads, how could Ye Ying possibly know anything?

"It's true! Wang Ye, please believe me," Ye Ying pleaded anxiously.

Mo Jingli frowned, his impatience growing. "Fine, speak. Where is the child?"

Ye Ying said, "It's the Emperor... Wang Ye, please save him. He's our child."

"You've truly lost your mind!" Mo Jingli shoved her away irritably. Ye Ying lunged forward again, grabbing his sleeve. "It's true, believe me. He really is our child. Wuwu... Please save him, he's dying..."

"How do you know he's our child?" Mo Jingli asked darkly.

Ye Ying was at a loss for words. Of course, she knew the note had been sent by Ye Li, but she couldn't say so. Revealing Ye Li's involvement would not only incur Mo Jingli's wrath but also ensure Prince Ding's Estate would never let her go. Shaking her head in terror, she stammered, "No... I can't say..."A cold glint flashed in Mo Jingli's eyes as he sneered, "Can't say? If you can't say, then why did you come to see me? Get out." Ye Ying froze, biting her lip before saying, "But the child..." Mo Jingli replied indifferently, "What child? Mo Suoyun is Mo Jingqi's son."

"No! That's our child, Wang Ye. He's your only son," Ye Ying cried out in panic. If Mo Jingli refused to acknowledge this child, then as Mo Jingqi's son—the current emperor—he would have no choice but to die. Seeing Mo Jingli's icy expression, his eyes devoid of even the slightest flicker of emotion, Ye Ying felt a chill in her heart. Somehow, she suddenly recalled the day the Qixia Princess had died and couldn't help but shudder.

"Guards, escort Wang Fei back to her chambers. No one is to see her without my orders," Mo Jingli commanded coldly.

Unable to resist, Ye Ying was forcibly taken back to her courtyard by the guards. Once in her room, she collapsed onto the bed and finally broke into loud sobs. Now, she truly understood why Ye Li had said she would regret it—because she was already beginning to.

In the study, Mo Jingli's expression darkened. Though he had ruthlessly dismissed Ye Ying, her words had left a deep mark on his mind. Ye Ying wouldn't lie about something like this for no reason, but the idea that Mo Suoyun was the child who had gone missing years ago... Strangely, Mo Jingli felt no joy at the thought of his lost son being found. Instead, he was filled with irritation and anger.

At the same time, Mo Jingli began to ponder why Mo Jingqi had chosen to pass the throne to Mo Suoyun. Among all of Mo Jingqi's sons, Mo Suoyun had the humblest maternal background and the weakest constitution and potential. Handing the throne to such a prince was practically an invitation for Mo Jingli to seize power. Could it be... that Mo Jingqi had intended for father and son to destroy each other?

At this thought, Mo Jingli shook his head fiercely. Unconsciously, he had already accepted Ye Ying's claim in his heart. "Guards, bring the Empress Dowager to Prince Ding's Estate immediately!" he barked.

The guards outside couldn't help but stiffen. The Empress Dowager referred to none other than the birth mother of the young emperor, Lady Li. But even if Lady Li was weak and incompetent, she was still the emperor's mother and the nation's Empress Dowager. For the prince to casually order her brought from the palace to Prince Li's Palace was truly...

"Move!" Mo Jingli roared.

"Yes, Your Highness! We'll go at once!"

The palace was close to Prince Li's Palace, and soon Lady Li was brought in. However, she wasn't alone—the Empress Dowager, who had been under house arrest, came with her. Though furious that the Empress Dowager had once again defied his orders and left the palace, Mo Jingli also knew that if she could slip past his guards, she must still have considerable influence in the palace. But he had no patience to deal with her now. His gaze remained fixed on Lady Li, who was trembling in fear.

"Consort Xian Zhao has arrived," a eunuch's shrill voice announced before Mo Jingli could speak. Startled, Mo Jingli stood and went to greet her. "Mother, why have you come?" he asked. Consort Xian Zhao had fallen ill some days ago after being provoked by Dongfang You and hadn't fully recovered. Leaning on someone for support, she still looked somewhat frail. Spotting the Empress Dowager in the study, she paused briefly before smiling faintly. "Sister, you're here as well?"The Empress Dowager was naturally displeased that her own son showed such attentiveness to Consort Xian Zhao while confining her, his birth mother. She merely cast a cold glance at Consort Xian Zhao without responding. Consort Xian Zhao paused for a moment, then seemingly smiled magnanimously and took a seat opposite the Empress Dowager.

As everyone settled in, only the Empress Dowager, Lady Li, stood alone in the center of the study, unsure of what to do. Since Mo Suoyun ascended the throne and she became Empress Dowager, Lady Li had remained quietly in her own palace. Not only were all palace affairs controlled by the Empress Dowager, but she dared not even speak a word in defense of her son, despite knowing he was being abused by Mo Jingli. Now, suddenly seized by Prince Li's guards and brought to Prince Li's Palace, Lady Li wore a bewildered expression, unaware of how she had offended Prince Li.

Mo Jingli stared at Lady Li with a gloomy expression, causing her face to grow increasingly pale and her body to sway unsteadily.

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly and coughed lightly before speaking, "Prince Li, why have you had Lady Li brought to your palace? After all, she is the widow of your late elder brother. It’s hardly appropriate for her to remain here for too long."

Mo Jingli snorted coldly, his gaze fixed on Lady Li. "Answer my questions truthfully," he demanded.

Trembling, Lady Li nodded repeatedly. Mo Jingli asked indifferently, "When was the Emperor born?"

Lady Li froze, clearly taken aback by the strange question. Mo Jingli said coldly, "Think carefully before answering." His sinister expression frightened her so much that she took a step back before stammering, "R—reply to Wang Ye, the Emperor was born on the second day of the ninth month in the twelfth year of Emperor Jing's reign. Surely... surely Wang Ye already knows this?" The birthdates of imperial heirs were recorded in the royal genealogy. If Prince Li wished to know, he could simply have someone check the records.

Mo Jingli sneered. Mo Suoyun was born on the second day of the ninth month, while Ye Ying's child was born on the thirtieth day of the eighth month—a difference of less than three days.

The Empress Dowager seemed momentarily stunned, as if realizing something. She looked at Mo Jingli and asked, "Why are you asking about the Emperor’s birthdate now?" Mo Jingli ignored her, his gaze never leaving Lady Li as he pressed on, "Did you see Mo Suoyun after he was born?"

Lady Li nodded fearfully. "I—I was in good health and didn’t faint. So... after the Emperor was born, the palace maids brought him to me."

"Good," Mo Jingli said with satisfaction. "As far as I know, the Emperor should have been born full-term. Why, then, do the imperial physicians now tell me he was born prematurely and is congenitally weak?" In truth, the physicians had not explicitly stated Mo Suoyun was premature, only that he was frail and might have been born early. Back then, Lady Li had been neglected. Had she not given birth to a prince who was later named heir by Mo Jingqi, the court and palace would have long forgotten about her and her son. No one would have cared whether Mo Suoyun was premature or not.

Lady Li paled, unable to speak.

Mo Jingli’s eyes turned icy. He slammed his palm onto the armrest of his chair, shattering the sturdy rosewood. "Tell the truth!" he roared.

Panicked, Lady Li cried, "I don’t know... I don’t know what to say... The Emperor truly is my son!"

Mo Jingli smirked coldly. "Is that so? Guards, take this woman out and execute her.""Your Majesty!" The Empress Dowager stared at Mo Jingli in shock and fury, finally realizing what he intended to do. She angrily exclaimed, "Li Shi is, after all, the Emperor's birth mother. How can you just kill her so casually? If you murder the Empress Dowager, how will Prince Li explain it to the entire court?" Mo Jingli sneered coldly at the Empress Dowager and said, "If Mo Suoyun isn’t even the late Emperor’s son, who do I need to explain anything to?"

"No... Wang Ye, this is a false accusation!" Li Shi was terrified. Even the dullest person knew the severity of the crime of tampering with the imperial bloodline. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground. "Wang Ye, this is unjust... I... your servant is innocent..." She had lived her life quietly, never imagining she would become the Emperor’s consort, give birth to a prince, or one day become the Empress Dowager. Yet after this series of bewildering upheavals, she now faced such an accusation.

"If you refuse to tell the truth, then you can die," Mo Jingli’s voice was merciless.

"No... I don’t want to... I truly don’t know..." Li Shi wailed. "This has nothing to do with me... Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

Consort Xian Zhao, who had remained silent until now, frowned and suddenly spoke up, looking at the terrified and incoherent Li Shi. "Just tell us clearly whether the Emperor is truly your son or not." Li Shi froze for a moment, glancing timidly at the three seated before her before whispering, "I... I don’t know... When the Emperor was born, I wrapped him myself... At his one-month celebration, the late Emperor had someone take the child to see him. After the child was returned, his health was always a bit frail. I thought infants were prone to illness and didn’t pay it much mind..."

"Foolish!" the Empress Dowager snapped. "The child was already a month old. Couldn’t you tell if the one returned was your own?" How could anyone not recognize their own child after a month?

Li Shi bit her pale lips and dared not speak. A glimmer of understanding flashed in Consort Xian Zhao’s eyes, and she said calmly to Mo Jingli, "Your Majesty, it seems she knows very little. Let her go. After all, she is the Empress Dowager of a nation..."

Mo Jingli still had questions left unasked and had no intention of sparing Li Shi’s life even after the interrogation. However, he deeply respected Consort Xian Zhao and didn’t wish to oppose her wishes. So he nodded and ordered Li Shi to be taken away.

Only the Empress Dowager, Mo Jingli, and Consort Xian Zhao remained in the study. The Empress Dowager frowned and asked, "What do you mean by this, sister?" Consort Xian Zhao sighed softly and said, "This matter isn’t Li Shi’s fault. She was merely a low-ranking consort of humble origins, and her child was taken away by the late Emperor’s own orders. Even if she knew the child wasn’t the original one, how could she have dared to speak up at the time? Had she done so, not only would the child have been lost, but her own life as well."Consort Xian Zhao's words were spoken with utmost calm, yet for some reason, the Empress Dowager felt there was an underlying implication in them, her face flickering with a strange expression. Turning to Mo Jingli, she sneered, "In that case, Prince Li must also understand the emperor's identity now. What does Prince Li intend to do?" Staring at Mo Jingli, a bizarre sense of satisfaction suddenly rose in the Empress Dowager's heart. Of course, she knew what Mo Jingli wanted to do. Though she could barely protect herself now, she no longer had the power to interfere with Mo Jingli's decisions. But now... if Mo Suoyun became Mo Jingli's son, she was quite curious to see what decision her own son would make.

Mo Jingli replied indifferently, "This matter has nothing to do with the Empress Dowager. Please return to your palace and enjoy your remaining years in peace."

"You—!" The Empress Dowager was furious, but when she met Consort Xian Zhao's serene smile, she inexplicably swallowed her anger. With a cold snort, she turned and left the study.

"Jing Li..." In the study, Consort Xian Zhao called softly to Mo Jingli, whose expression was grim. "This was my mistake as your mother. Very well... I will have the imperial physicians treat the emperor properly. There must still be hope—after all, the emperor is your only son."

Mo Jingli remained silent for a long while before saying, "This is not your fault, Mother. You acted with my best interests at heart. Let me think it over." Consort Xian Zhao nodded and stood up. "Then I shall take my leave. Don't dwell on it too much. The emperor will be fine..."

"Take care, Mother."

Consort Xian Zhao turned and walked out. At the doorway, she glanced back at Mo Jingli, who sat behind the desk with his head bowed, lost in thought. A faint smile curled at the corners of her still-elegant lips.

In the small courtyard where Ye Ying was temporarily staying, she sat alone in her room, lost in a daze. Tears had swollen her beautiful eyes red and puffy, and her pale, haggard face bore no trace of the former Chu Jing's most renowned beauty.

Suddenly, the door was kicked open with a loud bang. Startled, Ye Ying lifted her head to look toward the entrance. Mo Jingli stood there, exuding a chilling aura as he stared at the woman inside. Backlit by the light, Ye Ying couldn't clearly see the expression on his face. At the sight of Mo Jingli, she seemed to snap out of her trance, hastily jumping off the bed and rushing to him, crying, "Wang Ye, my child... my child... please, I beg you, save Suoyun!"

Taking in Ye Ying's disheveled appearance, Mo Jingli's eyes flashed with disgust. He grabbed her hand, dragged her into the room, and flung her to the ground. Looking down at her coldly, he demanded, "Ye Ying, who told you about Mo Suoyun's true identity?"

Ye Ying bit her lip stubbornly, refusing to speak. Enraged, Mo Jingli yanked her up from the floor. "Still won't talk?!" He absolutely refused to believe Ye Ying had uncovered this on her own. She had never even seen the child—how could she possibly know whether Mo Suoyun was that child or not? Someone must have told her, which meant others knew Mo Suoyun's true identity. Worse still... this could very well be a trap. A flawless scheme orchestrated by someone who had seized upon the news of his missing son."Do you think... I can't deal with you just because you refuse to speak?" Seeing Ye Ying's stubborn expression, Mo Jingli felt not an ounce of pity. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "Ye Ying, do you believe me if I say I can have Mo Suoyun killed right now?"

"You beast!" Ye Ying finally couldn't hold back, her face twisting in fury as she glared at Mo Jingli and cursed, "He's your own flesh and blood!" She even reached out to claw at his face, but Mo Jingli easily restrained her with a single motion. "Will you talk or not?"

Gritting her teeth, Ye Ying said, "Mo Jingli, Suoyun is also your son." Mo Jingli stared at her, then suddenly laughed, his tone indifferent. "I can always have more sons. Besides... even if I save Mo Suoyun now, he'll just be a sickly weakling in the future." These words were originally meant to scare Ye Ying, but the moment they left his lips, Mo Jingli felt a sudden clarity. Indeed, he would have more sons. Though none of the women in his estate had shown signs of pregnancy yet, the imperial physician had said it was because the poison had lingered too long in his system and he still needed time to recover. But the poison had undeniably been neutralized. Given time, he would surely have more children. Why should he burden himself with a weak, useless, and sickly son?

Moreover, Mo Jingli had never treated Mo Suoyun well over the years. So, ever since he had convinced himself that Mo Suoyun was his long-lost son, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt and discomfort. But more than that, he was furious at being tricked by Mo Jingqi before his death. Thus, he had little desire to see this son who had been "recovered." Besides, Mo Suoyun's identity was a thorny issue—whether acknowledged or not, it was troublesome. Mo Jingli certainly didn’t want Mo Suoyun to remain on the throne. While recognizing him would technically make Mo Jingli the "Retired Emperor," what glory was there in that compared to being the actual emperor?

Ye Ying stared at Mo Jingli in shock. She had thought he simply refused to believe her, but she never imagined he could utter such heartless words. Yet she quickly understood. She only had Mo Suoyun, but Mo Jingli could have countless sons with other women. Now... Mo Suoyun’s very existence was nothing but an obstacle in Mo Jingli’s path!

"Speak, or not?" Mo Jingli asked leisurely.

"I'll talk..." Ye Ying closed her eyes in despair, her voice trembling with pain. A crystal tear slid down her cheek, but the man before her remained unmoved. "It was Prince Ding's Estate who told me," she whispered.

"What did you say?!" Mo Jingli snapped. Now that the Great Chu had formed an alliance with Western Liang and Northern Rong, they were effectively in opposition to Prince Ding's Estate. Thus, Mo Jingli had grown increasingly sensitive to any news involving them. Hearing that Prince Ding's Estate was involved in this matter instantly enraged him.

Having already spoken, Ye Ying no longer held back. Clenching her teeth, she said, "I said it was Prince Ding's Estate who revealed Suoyun's identity to me.""Bitch!" Mo Jingli slapped Ye Ying hard across the face. "How dare you secretly collude with Prince Ding's Estate behind my back? You have some nerve!"

Tears welled up in Ye Ying's eyes as she said, "I just want to find my son. What's wrong with that? If Prince Ding's Estate can help me find my child, why shouldn't I help them?"

Mo Jingli bent down and roughly pulled Ye Ying up. "Tell me, what information did you give Prince Ding's Estate? Who were your contacts? How did you pass messages?"

Ye Ying wasn't someone who could withstand pressure. With just a little effort from Mo Jingli, she confessed that one of her senior maids, several guards, and a steward in the estate were all Prince Ding's people. Unfortunately, by the time Mo Jingli sent men to capture them, they had already fled.

In Ye Ying's chamber, Mo Jingli sat in a chair staring coldly at the bruised and battered woman slumped on the floor. Ye Ying endured her pain and said, "I've told you everything I know. Suoyun—"

"Mo Suoyun is the late emperor's son, not yours," Mo Jingli said coldly.

Ye Ying froze, staring at him in disbelief. Mo Jingli frowned. "Prince Ding's Estate deceived you." As he spoke these words, Mo Jingli had already decided to abandon this son—not just because of his lingering resentment toward Mo Suoyun regarding the throne, but also because this information came from Prince Ding's Estate. He couldn't help suspecting this was all part of a scheme, and that his missing child had actually been killed by Mo Jingqi long ago. Since they hadn't found him after all these years... perhaps it was better to act as if this son had never existed.

"No!" Ye Ying shook her head violently. "That can't be! Prince Ding's Estate wouldn't lie about this. I know... Suoyun was born just three days apart from my child. How could that be coincidence? I know you just brought Lady Li out of the palace to question her. She must know! I need to ask her!" She struggled to stand, trying to leave.

"Stop!" Mo Jingli's voice was icy. "The Empress Dowager is unwell and has returned to the palace to rest. You will remain confined to this estate. I don't have time to deal with you now—you'd better behave yourself!"

"No... Jing Li!" Ye Ying stood frozen, shaking her head in terror before suddenly rushing to kneel before Mo Jingli, clutching his legs as she wept. "Jing Li, you know Suoyun is our child. I beg you, spare him. He's your only child now, your only son."

Seeing Ye Ying's tear-streaked face, Mo Jingli's expression softened slightly. He reached out to stroke her hair and said quietly, "He was born weak and never properly nurtured. He wouldn't have lived long anyway. Be good, and we'll have other children."

"No... that's not true..." Ye Ying kept shaking her head.

Suddenly, her scalp burned with pain as Mo Jingli yanked her hair, forcing her to meet his gaze. Calmly, he said, "It is true, if you behave. When I ascend the throne, I'll make you my empress."

Ye Ying's eyes flickered as she whispered faintly, "Make me... empress?"Mo Jingli nodded and said, "Good, as long as you behave. This prince won’t hold your past connections with Prince Ding’s Estate against you. But... you must do something for me. Tell me, which other spies from Prince Ding’s Estate do you know in Nanjing? Surely they aren’t only within the estate itself."

"......"

"I really don’t know anything else," Ye Ying murmured, lowering her gaze.

Mo Jingli softened his voice. "Think carefully. I know I haven’t treated you well before. But look, now you’re the only one left in the palace. After all, you are still the Wang Fei of Prince Li’s Palace, aren’t you? How did those people send messages out? I remember none of them could freely leave the palace or the city. They must have had other contacts, right?"

Half an hour later, Mo Jingli left Ye Ying’s room satisfied. The guards originally stationed outside her courtyard were also withdrawn.

Inside the room, Ye Ying sat dazed on the floor. After a long while, a faint, bitter smile finally appeared on her lips. "Mo Jingli... you’re ruthless... Since it’s come to this, don’t blame me..."

Long before Mo Jingli came to her, the shadow guards from Prince Ding’s Estate who had been by Ye Ying’s side and within Prince Li’s Palace had already withdrawn. Before leaving, they relayed a few words from Ye Li: "Seven parts truth, three parts lies. If you want to save Mo Suoyun, you’d better know what to say and what not to say."

This time, Ye Ying did very well. What Mo Jingli knew were merely a few insignificant spies in Nanjing City, most of whom had likely already withdrawn by now. As for the truly important ones, Ye Ying hadn't revealed a single one. She didn't know whether Ye Li could really save her son. Mo Jingli was right—that child was already beyond saving. And all of this... was her fault as his mother. Because she too had coveted the vanity of that lofty position as Empress, she had not only failed to stop Consort Xian Zhao from poisoning the child but hadn't even informed anyone in Prince Ding's Estate. It was she who had harmed him... Ye Li had said she would regret it... Never before had she felt such overwhelming regret... Now, all she wished for was someone to avenge her son.

Mo Jingli said there would be other children? No, she would never have another child again. Even if she did, it would never be this one.

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

So exhausted~ Been quite busy these past two days and haven't had time to reply to comments—sorry about that, dear readers. The New Year is almost here, so wishing everyone a happy New Year in advance~