Mo Li

After a round of song and dance performances, envoys from various nations stepped forward to present their congratulatory gifts. The offerings from Prince Ding's subordinates were naturally conventional treasures symbolizing peace and joy, though some contained amusing novelties. However, the gifts from foreign envoys varied greatly—not only showcasing their nations' treasures but also subtly competing with other countries.

Northern Rong, having recently engaged in earth-shaking battles with Prince Ding's forces that resulted in heavy casualties, was paradoxically the most eager to mend relations. Thus, they were the first to present gifts—extraordinary ones at that. When the two boxes carried by the Northern Rong envoy were unveiled, their contents stunned the assembled guests. The left container held a snow-white, flawlessly furred, exquisitely adorable green-eyed fox in a cage. The right box contained an enormous blue lotus. Though plucked, the flower remained in full bloom within its ice-jade container, appearing as fresh as if just harvested from a pond. Beside it lay a verdant lotus seedpod.

While others merely marveled, Shen Yang and Doctor Lin, seated below, immediately brightened at the sight of the jade box's contents.

Yelv Hong announced with a smile, "These are Northern Rong's national treasures—the Green-Eyed Snow Fox and the Blazing Fire Lotus. We present them in celebration of the Little Prince and Princess's birthdays." The crowd erupted in murmurs. The Blazing Fire Lotus needed no introduction, having deep connections with Prince Ding's Estate. At one point, Mo Xiuyao's very life had depended on such a lotus. After Ye Li found the Underworld Flower as a substitute, the perilous harvesting of Blazing Fire Lotuses was abandoned. Yet its value extended far beyond being an antidote for Cold Poison—in the hands of a divine physician like Shen Yang, its efficacy nearly matched the Underworld Flower's.

As for the Green-Eyed Snow Fox, it was renowned as Northern Rong's ultimate treasure, so rare that even locals seldom glimpsed it. Like the Blazing Fire Lotus, it dwelled atop snow-capped peaks in Northern Rong's western extremes. Ordinary people considered themselves blessed to see one. In the Western Regions, its fur commanded astronomical prices—priceless in the truest sense. The fox wasn't just clever and adorable; its pelt, bones, flesh, and even blood were all invaluable treasures. While Central Plains attendees remained composed, many Western envoys gazed covetously at the little fox in its white jade cage.

Ye Li smiled faintly and nodded. "Thank you for your thoughtful gifts, Crown Prince Yelv. Xin'er will surely adore them." Though Xin'er was currently too young for pets, this juvenile fox would make a perfect companion in a few years when she grew older.

Yelv Hong replied cheerfully, "The honor is mine. On behalf of my royal father, I congratulate Prince Ding and Wang Fei, hoping our nations may enjoy lasting peace and prosperity henceforth." Mo Xiuyao responded with a faint smile, "This prince proposes a toast to the Crown Prince."

Yelv Hong raised his cup in agreement. "The privilege is mine, Wang Ye. After you."Everyone present knew that Prince Ding's Estate and Northern Rong had already signed a peace agreement. Yelv Hong's current declaration was merely a performance for the envoys present, signaling an end to conflicts with Prince Ding's Estate. After all, Northern Rong's national power had been weakened by Prince Ding's Estate, while many small countries in the west were still eyeing them covetously. In these times, no one could expect to live in peace without effort.

Subsequently, Lei Tengfeng and Mo Jingyu also stepped forward to present their congratulatory gifts—both rare treasures seldom seen in the world. Although the whereabouts of the little prince remained unknown, Princess Anxi and Pu A also appropriately offered their gifts. Given Princess Anxi's close ties with Prince Ding's Estate and the Xu Family, her presents were naturally free of the scheming and ulterior motives seen in others, consisting only of some precious local specialties from Nanzhao.

Later, the envoys from the Western Regions presented even more bizarre gifts—many of which the Central Plains people had never seen before—greatly broadening everyone's horizons. Although Prince Ding still showed no intention of ascending the throne as emperor, the scene already faintly resembled the grand occasion of all nations coming to pay tribute.

Amidst the revelry of song and dance, a sudden commotion arose among the guests below. Someone clutched their abdomen in pain and groaned. Soon, like a plague, the affliction spread, and more than half of the people in the grand hall collapsed. A short while later, the remaining half also fell, all as if their bones had been removed, lying limp and motionless on the ground. The only one still seated steadily was Mo Xiuyao, whose profound internal strength kept him upright, though his expression was far from pleasant.

"Prince Ding, what is the meaning of this?!" The envoys from the Western Regions, never expecting such an event, warily turned their gaze to Mo Xiuyao on the dais, suspecting some Central Plains trickery. However, seeing the trusted members of the Xu Family and Prince Ding's Estate also collapse, they grew even more bewildered.

Mo Xiuyao sat in his spacious chair, one hand supporting Ye Li, who leaned against him, and calmly said, "This prince would also like to know what is happening. Mo Jingli, won’t you show yourself?"

"Hahaha! Mo Xiuyao, you’ve finally fallen into my hands!" At the grand hall's entrance, a man clad in bright yellow imperial robes strode in, his face alight with triumph as he surveyed the scattered, fallen guests. With a wave of his hand, Mo Jingli signaled a flood of black-clad, sword-wielding men to pour in, surrounding the entire hall.

Mo Jingli swaggered to the center of the hall, lifting his eyes to Mo Xiuyao. His resplendent dragon robes shimmered under the candlelight, and aside from his overly pale complexion, he truly exuded the aura of an emperor. "Mo Xiuyao, you didn’t expect this, did you? The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind... In the end, victory is mine."

Mo Xiuyao regarded his gloating expression with indifference and said mildly, "This prince fails to see what you have to be so proud of."

Mo Jingli sneered. "Mo Xiuyao, don’t try to intimidate me with your posturing. Can you even move right now? My Drunken Aloes poison affects those with higher cultivation more severely. If you could still move, would you still be sitting there talking to me?"

Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze and smiled faintly. "If that’s the case, why don’t you come up here and test it yourself?"Mo Jingli's eyes narrowed as he warily stared at Mo Xiuyao for a long moment before finally laughing. "You're right. I don't dare come up. So there's no need for you to provoke me. I don't need to come up to kill you!" Mo Xiuyao nodded. "So the so-called Emperor Chu is just a coward who fears even someone who's lost all their inner energy? No wonder the Empress Dowager and ministers of Chu wanted to depose you. If it were me, I'd have gotten rid of you eight hundred years ago. Compared to Mo Jingqi, you're far inferior."

A flash of anger crossed Mo Jingli's eyes. If there was one thing he hated more than Mo Xiuyao, it was being told he was inferior to Mo Jingqi. He could admit being no match for Mo Xiuyao, but he'd never accept being worse than Mo Jingqi. "What? Too bad he's dead, and soon you will be too. History is written by the victors—a hundred years from now, no one will remember your righteousness. They'll only know that I defeated Mo Jingqi and you, Mo Xiuyao. I am the true supreme ruler under heaven!"

Growing smug, Mo Jingli couldn't resist glancing at Ye Li beside Mo Xiuyao, smiling as he asked, "Ye Li, don't you agree?"

Ye Li regarded him calmly and replied indifferently, "If you think so, then so be it." Just that simple, flat statement made Mo Jingli's expression shift through several emotions in an instant. Her words and tone were like humoring a madman by agreeing with whatever he said.

"Ye Li, come down. I'll spare your life. Don't try anything—your inner energy isn't strong, but you're not completely immobilized either," Mo Jingli said darkly, his gaze fixed on her.

Mo Xiuyao tightened his arm around Ye Li's waist, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as he looked at Mo Jingli. "No need to worry about A Li's life. You'd do better to worry about your own. Or... did I not teach you enough of a lesson last time?"

Mo Jingli froze, his expression twisting strangely as if recalling something. After a long pause, he suddenly burst into loud laughter, pointing sharply at Mo Xiuyao. "Mo Xiuyao, you're still as arrogant as ever! At this point, you can't even save yourself—how could you possibly save Ye Li? Today, I'll make sure you die in the most humiliating way possible! Ye Li, come here... I'll let bygones be bygones for everything in the past."

Ye Li lifted her gaze and said coolly, "This princess consort wasn't aware there was anything requiring Your Majesty's forgiveness."

A vicious gleam flashed in Mo Jingli's eyes. "Do you really think Mo Xiuyao can still protect you now?"

Ye Li smiled faintly without responding, calmly resting her head against Mo Xiuyao's shoulder and ignoring Mo Jingli.

With one hand supporting Ye Li's waist and the other idly toying with a wine cup, Mo Xiuyao asked Mo Jingli, "I am rather curious—how did you administer the poison?" In Prince Ding's Estate, poisoning someone was no easy feat. Otherwise, the estate's residents would have been poisoned to death hundreds of times over. "In the wine? No... those who didn't drink were also affected. The... candles?"

Mo Jingli's eyes gleamed as he smiled. "Prince Ding is indeed quick-witted. Worthy of the colorless, scentless Drunken Aloes I painstakingly obtained. What a pity... that you're only realizing it now. Isn't it a bit too late?"Mo Xiuyao shook his head and said, "Even so, your people alone couldn't have done it. Who else... step forward on your own. Let this prince see exactly what kind of people dare to stab me in the back."

The great hall was silent, with not a single person standing up. This scene made Mo Jingli feel utterly humiliated. These people had secretly aided him, but now, even when Mo Xiuyao seemed on the verge of collapse, they still didn’t dare to step forward openly and stand behind him. Mo Jingli didn’t realize that in their eyes, unless they saw Prince Ding’s head separated from his body, very few had the courage to openly betray Prince Ding's Estate.

"Mo Xiuyao is already poisoned—what are you all afraid of?" Mo Jingli said coldly, his gaze threatening as it swept over the assembled crowd. After a moment, one person stood up, then another... In no time, more than a dozen had risen. Among them were overlooked heads of prominent families, serving officials, and even a former Great Chu general who had surrendered to the Mo Family Army. Clearly, these people had been pretending to be poisoned earlier.

Mo Xiuyao’s gaze swept indifferently over them before finally settling on Mo Jingyu, who was still slumped to the side. Calmly, he said, "Prince Yu, you might as well stand up too." Mo Jingyu froze for a moment, then sighed softly and rose to his feet.

Mo Jingli looked at him with immense satisfaction and sneered, "Mo Xiuyao, do you see now? Did you think everyone would remain loyal to you, that everyone fears you? Yet here are so many who have betrayed you."

Mo Xiuyao replied with indifference, "Betrayal? This prince never intended to rely on them—how is this betrayal? A bunch of worthless trash—take them if you like. Or you could ask them if they know any secrets of Prince Ding's Estate, or any military intelligence about the Mo Family Army. Or... even if I were to die right now, whether they have any way to get you out of Li Cheng alive." At his words, the expressions of those standing turned even more ashen.

Mo Jingli’s face darkened, and he scoffed, "This emperor dared to enter Prince Ding's Estate without any intention of leaving alive. But dragging you, Mo Xiuyao, and all these people here down with me—that makes my death worthwhile."

"Congratulations, then," Mo Xiuyao said without sincerity.

Mo Jingli stared irritably at Mo Xiuyao, seated calmly above him, a familiar sense of helpless frustration rising within him. It had always been like this since childhood—as if he could never gain the upper hand against Mo Xiuyao. No matter how dire Mo Xiuyao’s situation, no matter how dangerous, it always seemed like he was the one who lost. If he had even half the strength of Ling Tiehan or Mu Qingcang, he could charge forward now and run Mo Xiuyao through with a sword. But even in this situation, he still didn’t dare get close to Mo Xiuyao. He feared him—Mo Jingli had to admit this in his heart, though it was a truth he had always been ashamed to acknowledge.

"Kill him for me!" Mo Jingli suddenly snapped, his patience worn thin by Mo Xiuyao’s unshaken composure.A black-clad man stepped forward cautiously, making his way toward the dais. Seeing that Mo Xiuyao showed no reaction, his confidence in the prince's poisoning grew, emboldening him to advance a few more steps. The man's eyes twitched with excitement—killing Prince Ding with his own hands was no small matter, and no one could remain calm in such a moment. Finally, he drew his sword and swung it at Mo Xiuyao. No one saw Mo Xiuyao move, but the black-clad man let out a bloodcurdling scream as he was flung from the dais, crashing to the ground and vomiting blood. Clearly, he had been struck down by someone with formidable inner energy.

The onlookers collectively exhaled, unsure whether to feel relief or disappointment at Mo Xiuyao's unscathed state.

Mo Jingli's expression darkened further. "You're not poisoned?"

Ignoring the question, Mo Xiuyao replied indifferently, "You can't kill me. So, what now?" Mo Jingli's face twisted with fury before he finally sneered, "So what if I can't? I refuse to believe none of them are poisoned like you! Kill them all!"

The black-clad men accompanying Mo Jingli were desperate outlaws who knew they were doomed. At his command, they drew their blades and attacked indiscriminately, heedless of the guests' identities.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" Countless arrows sliced through the air. Simultaneously, the guests sprang into action—those skilled in martial arts fought back, while the unskilled scrambled for cover. In moments, Mo Jingli's black-clad men lay motionless on the ground, not subdued by the guests but collapsing weakly, just as the guests had earlier.

"What... what is this?" Mo Jingli roared. Though he remained unaffected, his men—including Mo Jingyu—had all succumbed.

"Drunken Aloes? Such a petty trick to flaunt!" Shen Yang's voice drifted lazily from a corner of the hall. "Drunken Aloes is indeed a fine narcotic—odorless, tasteless, soluble in water, and combustible. Pity its antidote is just as easy to find. Moreover... the most common remedy is the Ice Jade Orchid. But... if one has taken an antidote made from aloeswood beforehand and then inhales the scent of Ice Jade Orchids, it becomes another poison altogether."

Only then did the guests notice that the floral decorations adorning the hall tonight were all orchids—more than half of them Ice Jade Orchids. However, the Ice Jade Orchid's blooms were so small that, mixed among the more exotic varieties, they went unnoticed.

Mo Jingli's face darkened with rage. "Shen Yang! Once again, you've ruined my plans!"

Shen Yang smiled faintly. "You flatter me, Prince Li. It was merely a coincidence."

Coincidence, my foot! Since when did such coincidences exist? Mo Xiuyao had clearly known his plan all along—down to the poison he intended to use.

"Prince Ding's methods are truly impressive," Mo Jingli spat through gritted teeth. "To capture me, you'd risk the lives of so many guests." Had he charged in swinging his sword indiscriminately from the start, even Mo Xiuyao's hidden guards couldn't have protected everyone. As expected, the guests' expressions soured at his words. They cared little about Prince Ding capturing Mo Jingli, but using their lives as bait was beyond the pale."Prince Ding, what is the meaning of this?" The envoy from the Western Regions, who knew Mo Xiuyao the least, was the first to question.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly and said, "My apologies for startling you all. It's just that... the usual song and dance performances are rather dull, so I thought I’d treat you all to a good show instead. I assure you, no one will be harmed."

"On what grounds can Prince Ding make such a guarantee?!" someone shrieked.

"On the grounds that no one has been injured so far. Zhennan Wang, Crown Prince Yelv Hong, the Queen of Nanzhao, Princess Helan—what do you think?" Mo Xiuyao asked with a smile.

Lei Tengfeng sighed and said, "A loss is a loss. Prince Ding, your brilliance is undeniable. I concede."

Yelv Hong was even more direct. "This prince admits defeat. I’ll add another thousand fine steeds to Prince Ding’s winnings." Since the horses were already given, the difference between ten thousand and eleven thousand was negligible. Yelv Hong could afford the loss.

Princess Anxi, worried about her child, nodded slightly and said, "This prince concedes as well."

Princess Helan blinked, then burst into laughter. Instantly, the room seemed to brighten with her dazzling radiance. "They say the people of the Central Plains are exceedingly clever, and Prince Ding is the cleverest among them. This princess concedes as well. For the next two years, the furs and medicinal herbs traded from my Northern Rong to Prince Ding’s Estate will be sold to you at twenty percent less."