Mo Li

The news of the Nanzhao Queen’s disappearance near Li Cheng could not be entirely concealed, nor did Prince Ding's Estate make any deliberate effort to hide it. As Mo Xiuyao had said, there were no walls without cracks. At this time, those gathered in Li Cheng were either nobles or rulers from various nations, each with their own covert channels of information. Even if they couldn’t pry into the affairs within Prince Ding's Estate, major and minor events in the city were impossible to keep from them.

Among them, the most shocked was undoubtedly Mo Jingyu. He had initially thought Mo Jingli’s talk of targeting the Nanzhao Queen was merely idle chatter, but he never expected that madman would actually act—and succeed. Decades of cautious living had honed Mo Jingyu’s instincts, and he now sensed danger in his current situation. Yet, the temptation of such a crucial leverage—along with the imperial seal—made it impossible for him to retreat unscathed. After hearing his subordinate’s report, Mo Jingyu took a deep breath and remained silent for a long moment before finally waving the messenger away.

"Imperial Uncle, has something happened?" Mo Suiyun, seated nearby, asked curiously.

Mo Jingyu glanced at him indifferently. "Didn’t you hear? Someone has kidnapped the Nanzhao Queen and her prince."

Mo Suiyun blinked in confusion. "Why would they kidnap the Nanzhao Queen and prince? This is Prince Ding's territory. If they had a grudge against her… wouldn’t it be better to act elsewhere?"

Mo Jingyu studied him for a moment before smiling faintly. "Your Majesty thinks quite deeply."

Mo Suiyun lowered his head, appearing somewhat shy. "Didn’t Imperial Uncle and the Empress Dowager say… we must not provoke Prince Ding's Estate? Prince Ding seems very formidable… Aren’t those assassins afraid of him?"

Mo Jingyu sighed softly and murmured under his breath, "Perhaps he’s simply gone mad."

Though his voice was low, Mo Suiyun, sitting close by, heard every word clearly. He kept his head bowed and did not respond, as if he hadn’t heard Mo Jingyu’s remark at all. Yet beneath his seemingly oblivious expression, a strange glint flickered in his eyes.

Despite Prince Ding's shadow guards scouring nearly every corner near Li Cheng in secret, there was still no trace of Princess Anxi. Shortly afterward, Xu Qingbai arrived safely in Li Cheng with the envoys from the Western Regions. Since they had been escorted from afar by Prince Ding's shadow guards, they encountered no trouble along the way—though several of the dispatched guards had been injured.

In the study of Prince Ding's Estate, Xu Qingbai sipped his tea while glancing at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li seated above him. "Has something happened?" he asked. If nothing were amiss, there would have been no need to send shadow guards to greet the Western Regions envoys a hundred li outside the city. After years of handling affairs independently, Xu Qingbai had grown increasingly mature and steady. Though he was still the youngest among Prince Ding's civil and military officials, his bearing now carried much of the dignified presence of the esteemed Xu Daren.

Ye Li nodded and recounted the incident of Princess Anxi’s disappearance. Xu Qingbai raised an eyebrow but showed no surprise. After a moment of thought, he said, "Even if Mo Jingli acted out of rage, he wouldn’t target the Nanzhao Queen, who has no grudge against him. Given his temperament, the ones he’ll ultimately come for… are likely still Prince Ding's Estate."Ye Li nodded. They all understood what Xu Qingbai was saying, but she still sighed lightly with concern, "I'm just afraid that Mo Jingli deliberately wants to humiliate Prince Ding's Estate and might harm Princess Anxi and the little prince."

"There's been no news these past two days, so it's unlikely. Moreover, Mo Jingli isn't someone who disregards his own life. With Princess Anxi and the little prince in his hands, at the very least, we would hesitate to act rashly. Therefore, Princess Anxi should be safe for now," Xu Qingbai analyzed calmly. He had no personal connection with Princess Anxi—in fact, they were complete strangers—which made his assessment more objective. "Li'er, there's no need to worry too much. If Mo Jingli wanted to kill her, he would have done so on the spot. Why go through the trouble of kidnapping her and finding a place to hide?"

Mo Xiuyao looked at Ye Li and smiled, "That's exactly what I said, but A Li insisted on worrying. Now that Qingbai agrees, you should feel reassured, right?" Ye Li smiled sheepishly and said to Xu Qingbai, "Fourth Brother, the lodging and reception arrangements for the Western Liang envoys have been assigned to Second Brother. Please keep an eye on it as well. Also, I'm concerned that Mo Jingli might target these envoys. If anything comes up, you can reach out to Qin Feng or Zhuo Jing."

Xu Qingbai nodded solemnly. The Western Liang envoys had come from afar to offer congratulations, and regardless of their intentions, they were still guests. If anything happened to them in Li Cheng, it would be difficult to explain. A single misstep could reignite conflict on the Western Liang border.

"Since it's confirmed to be Mo Jingli, could he be in contact with someone from Great Chu?" Xu Qingbai set down his teacup and asked after a moment of thought. Ye Li smiled faintly, "Fourth Brother, you're as sharp as ever. We do suspect that Mo Jingli has met with Mo Jingyu. And... Mo Jingyu might have some leverage over him."

"So, you plan to wait and see?" Xu Qingbai raised an eyebrow. "But you still need to be careful. The fact that Mo Jingli dared to infiltrate Western Liang and hasn't been caught by Prince Ding's shadow guards suggests he has some tricks up his sleeve." Mo Xiuyao nodded, "Don't worry. I have a good idea of what he might still have."

"Mo Jingyu has always been cautious. What kind of leverage could Mo Jingli possibly have over him?" Xu Qingbai couldn't help but feel curious. He had spent a considerable amount of time in Chu Jing and even served as an official in Great Chu, so he had some understanding of the imperial princes. Mo Jingyu had managed to stay safe under the paranoid rule of Mo Jingqi, later gained Mo Jingli's trust, and now, even after Mo Jingli's downfall, still held significant power. Clearly, he was no pushover. What kind of leverage could Mo Jingli have that would force him to submit?

Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly. "Given Mo Jingyu's current status, ordinary leverage wouldn't be enough to threaten him. What could make him wary... treason, rebellion, regicide? He had nothing to do with Mo Jingqi or Mo Suoyun's affairs. Rebellion... Mo Jingyu isn't impulsive, and he doesn't command troops. That leaves... treason!" As he spoke, a sharp glint flashed in Mo Xiuyao's eyes.

"Treason?" Both Ye Li and Xu Qingbai were surprised. For Mo Jingyu, a prince of Great Chu, treason was even more shocking than rebellion or regicide.Mo Xiuyao lightly touched his forehead, pondering as he spoke, "It probably doesn’t count as treason... It’s more likely that he sold something from Great Chu to..." He frowned in thought before slowly uttering two words, "Northern Rong."

"Are you sure?" Ye Li frowned. Traitors were universally despised, regardless of the era. If this were true, it wouldn’t be surprising that Mo Jingyu was being controlled by Mo Jingli.

"Not sure, just a guess," Mo Xiuyao replied indifferently. "But whether it’s true or not, we’ll know soon enough." Ever since learning of Mo Jingyu’s contact with Mo Jingli, Prince Ding’s Estate had already begun investigating Mo Jingyu. It wouldn’t be long before every detail of Mo Jingyu’s life was laid bare before them. If even Mo Jingli could uncover this secret, there was no way Prince Ding’s Estate wouldn’t find it if they looked hard enough. Ye Li could only hope it wasn’t true—if Mo Jingyu had indeed done something unforgivable, no matter what he did now, he wouldn’t leave Li Cheng alive.

"Reporting to Wang Fei, Princess Helan from the Northern Border has arrived," a guard announced from outside the door.

Hearing this, Ye Li couldn’t help but smile. She had a great fondness for the bold, straightforward princess from the Northern Border who dared to love and hate freely. Rising to her feet, she said to Mo Xiuyao, "I’ll go greet Princess Helan." Although Princess Helan bore the title of a princess, the Northern Border wasn’t yet a recognized nation—at best, it was a tribal confederation. As Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao naturally had no need to personally receive such a princess, even if she might one day rule the entire Northern Border.

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Very well. I still have matters to discuss with Qing Bai."

Without further ado, Ye Li stood and left. The study fell into brief silence after her departure. After a while, Mo Xiuyao spoke calmly, "Qing Bai, did you have something to say?"

Xu Qingbai nodded slightly. "I’ve heard... the officials in Li Cheng have been rather critical of Li'er?"

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow with a faint smile. "You’ve dealt with those pedantic scholars before, Young Master Xu. Surely you understand what they’re like?" Xu Qingbai lowered his gaze and nodded. "Indeed. So, what are Your Highness’s thoughts on this?"

Mo Xiuyao smiled in satisfaction. "This matter will require Young Master Xu’s assistance."

"I understand," Xu Qingbai replied. Mo Xiuyao’s smile deepened—conversing with intelligent people was always a pleasure. Though Xu Qingbai appeared refined and diplomatic, he was, in truth, someone who repaid every slight. Without his innate dominance, how could a seemingly gentle scholar like him have subdued the powerful families of Western Liang in just two or three years? While the five Xu brothers currently deferred to Xu Qingchen as their leader, Mo Xiuyao knew that Young Master Xu’s aloof nature made him ill-suited for long-term political service. Thus, when it came to getting things done, the fourth young master of the Xu Family was the one to turn to.

As for how those troublesome old men would fare under Xu Qingbai’s handling, Prince Ding couldn’t care less. If they thought the previous minor incidents were the extent of his retribution, they were sorely mistaken—the title of Prince Ding also represented pettiness, vindictiveness, and a tendency to take out grievances on others."Helan." Outside the gates of Prince Ding's Estate, Ye Li smiled as she looked at the radiant woman dressed in the distinctive red attire of Northern Rong.

"Princess Ding!" Princess Helan beamed and rushed forward, enveloping Ye Li in a warm embrace. "Princess Ding, it's been so long, yet you're still as beautiful as ever." Ye Li returned the hug with a hint of helplessness, replying, "Not as stunning as you, Princess." Having lived in this era for so long, Ye Li found herself still unaccustomed to such enthusiastic greetings.

"Really?" Princess Helan gazed at Ye Li with delight. While many had praised her beauty, none could compare to the joy of receiving compliments from someone she herself admired.

Ye Li chuckled, "Of course it's true. It seems you've had a pleasant year as well."

Princess Helan grinned, "Not bad. Though the Central Plains are lovely, I still prefer the northern frontier. I’ve heard you’ve had quite an eventful year too. One day, I must challenge you to a martial arts contest. On our way here, the people spoke of you as if you were the reincarnation of the God of War."

"You’re most welcome," Ye Li replied. "Princess, you must be tired from your journey. Please, come inside and rest." Without hesitation, Princess Helan linked arms with Ye Li and strode into the estate. At the entrance, Ye Li suddenly paused, her gaze darting toward a spot outside the gates. "What’s wrong?" Princess Helan asked, puzzled. "Nothing," Ye Li answered with a faint smile. "Please, after you." Unnoticed, she signaled to Qin Feng with a subtle hand gesture. She had distinctly sensed someone watching her from that direction. Qin Feng gave a slight nod and, after the two women entered the estate, directed guards to search the area Ye Li had indicated.

Inside, as they walked, Princess Helan whispered, "Princess Ding, is someone targeting Prince Ding’s Estate?"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow in surprise, impressed by the princess’s sharp intuition. Princess Helan quickly shook her head. "No, it’s just that we encountered a group of assassins on our way here—before we even reached Flying Goose Pass. At first, I thought they might be remnants of Ren Qining’s forces seeking revenge, but it didn’t quite fit. Then, upon arriving in Li Cheng, I heard about the attempted kidnapping of the Queen of Nanzhao. Just now..." Though she hadn’t noticed anything herself, Princess Helan had deduced from Ye Li’s reaction that something was amiss. Admitting her own shortcomings, she sighed, "I suppose I’m still not as observant as you."

With a soft sigh, Ye Li briefly recounted the situation. Unfazed, Princess Helan laughed. "This Mo Jingli has quite the audacity. If given the chance, I’d love to confront him." Ye Li shook her head wryly. "I’d rather you didn’t." The fact that Mo Jingli had dared to ambush Princess Helan en route showed he had truly lost his mind, heedless of becoming a target for every kingdom’s wrath.In a dim alley of Li Cheng, a middle-aged man dressed in plain cloth slowly raised his head, his eyes gleaming with sharp intensity. As expected of Ye Li—he had almost been discovered! Recalling the gentle, smiling woman in white robes he had seen outside Prince Ding's Estate, a complex expression flickered across the man's face. Moments later, as if remembering something, his features twisted into something vicious and contorted. "Ye Li, Mo Xiuyao! I won’t let you off! I won’t let you off!"

At the envoy residence of Great Chu, Mo Jingyu pushed open the door to his room with a dark expression. He had just heard that Princess Helan and her entourage from the northern border had encountered assassins on their journey. He didn’t need to think hard to know who was behind it. At a time when Prince Ding's Estate was at the height of its power, the only one reckless enough to oppose them was that madman Mo Jingli.

The moment he stepped inside, he sensed something amiss. Mo Jingyu tensed and sharply looked up, only to find someone lounging casually on the soft couch in his room, reading a book. Mo Jingyu froze for a moment before quickly shutting the door behind him and snarling in a low voice, "Have you lost your mind?! How dare you waltz in here so brazenly at a time like this!"

Mo Jingli smirked, raising an eyebrow dismissively. "Scared? Don’t worry, Prince Ding's people won’t notice me."

Mo Jingyu took a closer look and realized Mo Jingli’s appearance had drastically changed since their last meeting. The once-conspicuous beard was now completely shaved off, and his previously sallow, gaunt face was unnaturally pale. He was even dressed in the uniform of a guard from Prince Yu’s Estate of Great Chu. At a glance, he no longer resembled a middle-aged man in his thirties but rather a sickly youth in his twenties.

"You—" Mo Jingyu stepped closer, staring at Mo Jingli. Only then did he notice the unnatural whiteness of his face—it was caked in powder. Clearly, Mo Jingli hadn’t been living comfortably these days, and restoring his once-privileged appearance wasn’t something that could be done overnight. Hence, the makeup. But for a grown man, even Mo Jingyu—who, as a member of the imperial family, was no stranger to refined tastes—found the thick layer of powder unbearable. He couldn’t help but frown. "You really spare no effort." With this disguise, unless someone was intimately familiar with Mo Jingli, they wouldn’t recognize him even if he stood right in front of them. No wonder he was so brazen.

Mo Jingli’s face twisted briefly before smoothing back into calm.

"What do you want from me?" Mo Jingyu asked. Having his weaknesses in someone else’s grasp was an unpleasant feeling, so he had no desire to see Mo Jingli at all.

Mo Jingli smiled. "Of course, I have a request. Prince Ding’s banquet is in two days. What I need you to do will happen then."

Mo Jingyu raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

Mo Jingli said, "I need you to bring Mo Yuchen out of Prince Ding's Estate that day."

Mo Jingyu regarded him coolly. "Do you think I have the ability to smuggle Prince Ding’s heir out of a heavily guarded estate? And even if I could, how would I escape afterward?"

"That’s your problem," Mo Jingli replied indifferently. "Solutions are always devised by people. If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way."Mo Jingyu flatly refused, saying, "I have no way to do it."

Mo Jingli fell silent for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, "No way? Then let me remind you... if you can't, perhaps the little emperor you brought along might have a way." Mo Jingyu's expression shifted slightly, "You want to use the Emperor?" Indeed, Mo Suiyun was only eleven or twelve years old—children naturally aroused less suspicion.

Mo Jingli sneered, "Emperor? You say it so smoothly! Don't tell me you're worried about him. After all, he's Mo Jingqi's son—even if he dies, it has nothing to do with you. Isn't that right?"

Mo Jingyu remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "I understand. But... you'd better be sure you really have the capability. If the boat capsizes halfway... Prince Ding's shadow guards and the Qilin are not to be trifled with."

Mo Jingli chuckled, "Don't worry. If that day comes, they'll have their hands full. Besides, there's one more thing."

"Mo Jingli, don't push your luck!" Mo Jingyu roared in a low voice, furious. Seeing his rage, Mo Jingli laughed delightedly and said leisurely, "No need to worry. This matter is even simpler. On the day of Prince Ding's banquet, I want to go with you to Prince Ding's Estate."

"You're insane!" Mo Jingyu gritted his teeth.

Mo Jingli gave him a faint glance but didn't argue. Mo Jingyu took a deep breath and said gruffly, "Fine. But what about the things in your possession—" Mo Jingli nodded, "Rest assured. Once I see Mo Yuchen, I'll give you everything you want."

"You'd better keep your word!" Mo Jingyu spat hatefully.

Click... A soft sound came from outside the door. Mo Jingli's expression darkened as he lunged forward, "Who's there?!" The door was flung open, and a figure in bright yellow robes hurriedly turned the corner of the corridor. Mo Jingli sneered, catching up in a few strides and dragging the person back.

Seeing Mo Suiyun thrown into the room, Mo Jingyu's face also turned grim. He looked at Mo Jingli and asked, "What now?" Mo Jingli snorted coldly, "What do you mean, 'what now'? Since he overheard, just kill him."

Mo Suiyun sat on the floor, his face deathly pale as he stared fearfully at the two men. He had accidentally seen someone enter Mo Jingyu's room and had quietly come over to see who it was. But then Mo Jingyu returned, and he ended up overhearing their secret plot. In his panic, he bumped against the wall, alerting Mo Jingli.

"Uncle Prince Yu..." Mo Suiyun pleaded fearfully, looking at Mo Jingyu. Mo Jingyu frowned, "If the Emperor suddenly dies, it will arouse Prince Ding's suspicions. At that time—"

Mo Jingli considered this and acknowledged Mo Jingyu's point. Prince Ding's Estate was undoubtedly heavily guarding Mo Xiaobao—it wouldn't be easy to lure him out. Among the people from Great Chu, Mo Suiyun had the best chance. But...

"I... I won't say anything... Uncle Prince Li..." Though Mo Jingli had changed considerably, Mo Suiyun still recognized him. His fear deepened—none of the princes or princesses left behind by Mo Jingqi dared not fear this uncle, who had orchestrated the death of the previous child emperor, Mo Suoyun.

Mo Jingli narrowed his eyes, studying Mo Suiyun for a long moment before saying indifferently, "If you don't want to die... then obey me obediently."

Mo Suiyun nodded repeatedly, wiping his tears, "I'll obey... Uncle Prince Li, please... don't kill me..."Watching his terrified expression, Mo Jingli nodded in satisfaction and reached out to pull him up. Mo Suiyun stood up fearfully, uneasy under Mo Jingli's sharp, blade-like gaze. Mo Jingli looked at him and asked, "Do you know what to do?"

Mo Suiyun hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.

"Can you do it?" Mo Jingli asked.

"Yes." Mo Suiyun nodded quickly. "Mo Yuchen, Mo Yuchen wants me to play with him. I haven't... haven't gone these past few days. I'll go find him to play later, and he'll definitely come with me."

A cold smile curled at the corners of Mo Jingli's lips as he patted Mo Suiyun's head. "Good. Uncle knows you're a good boy. As long as you bring Mo Yuchen out of Prince Ding's Estate on the day of the banquet, you'll still be the Emperor of Great Chu. Uncle won't harm you."

Mo Suiyun couldn't suppress a shiver and whispered, "Uncle, I understand..."

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Struggling with the final chapters, haven't replied to comments lately, sorry... This indecisive child doesn't know where to break off~