Mo Li

"Wang Ye, Wang Fei. The Queen of Nanzhao, her consort, and Prince Zhennan of Western Liang request an audience," Qin Feng reported solemnly from outside the door.

Mo Xiuyao nodded and said, "Let them in."

Shortly after, Princess Anxi and the others entered together. Princess Anxi was holding the little prince in her arms, her beautiful face filled with maternal affection and joy. Ye Li smiled as she looked at the three of them and asked, "It’s so late—what brings you here?"

Lei Tengfeng glanced at Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, then at Princess Anxi and her husband, and chuckled, "Since everyone is still awake, and I’m not much of a drinker, I decided to take a stroll. I happened to run into the Queen of Nanzhao and her consort and heard they were coming to see Wang Ye and Wang Fei. I thought I’d join them for a cup of tea. I hope Wang Fei doesn’t mind."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Prince Zhennan, you’re too polite. Please, have a seat." With that, she ordered tea to be served.

Princess Anxi held her child tightly, unwilling to let go for even a moment. The return of her son had nearly brought the usually strong-willed princess to tears. Ye Li looked at her warmly and asked, "Is the little prince doing well?"

Princess Anxi nodded repeatedly. "Shuo’er is fine. We came… to thank the Little Prince. Has he… returned yet?"

Ye Li smiled. "After running wild all day, he’s already gone to rest in his room."

Princess Anxi nodded with slight regret and said, "I’ll personally thank the Little Prince tomorrow."

Ye Li looked at the baby in Princess Anxi’s arms, who was staring at her with wide, curious eyes, and asked, "May I hold him?"

Princess Anxi gently placed the child in Ye Li’s arms. The baby gazed at her with big eyes but didn’t cry. Princess Anxi couldn’t help but laugh. "This child… seems much braver after this ordeal. He used to be very shy around strangers." At this, she grew sad again, thinking of the hardships her son might have endured these past few days. Unlike older children, infants couldn’t speak of their suffering, which only made it more worrying and heartbreaking.

Ye Li comforted her softly, "The little prince seems fine. Has he been examined?"

Princess Anxi nodded quickly. "Mister Shen Yang personally checked Shuo’er. There’s nothing wrong. He might have been a little frightened, but he’ll recover in a few days."

"That’s good to hear."

Lei Tengfeng, who had been listening quietly, looked at Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao in surprise. "Was it the Little Prince who brought back the Prince of Nanzhao?"

Mo Xiuyao replied nonchalantly, "That boy was just fooling around. He happened to be placed together with the little prince by Mo Jingli. He set a fire and took advantage of the chaos to have someone bring the prince back."

Mo Xiuyao made it sound as if Mo Xiaobao had merely played a prank, set a fire, and left. But Lei Tengfeng and the others understood how difficult it must have been for an eleven-year-old child to set a fire under Mo Jingli’s heavy guard and escape in the chaos. If it had been an ordinary child of that age, they would likely have been too scared to do anything but cry.

"The Little Prince is truly remarkable at such a young age. Indeed, a tiger father does not beget a dog son," Lei Tengfeng praised.Princess Anxi and Pu A also nodded repeatedly, feeling immensely grateful to Mo Xiaobao for rescuing their son. Lei Tengfeng sipped his tea and casually asked, "Prince Ding, Wang Fei, I wonder about Mo Jingli..." At his question, Princess Anxi and Pu A couldn't help but look at Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao. Once bitten, twice shy—Mo Jingli had already become someone they needed to eliminate immediately.

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly, "There will be results soon."

Lei Tengfeng arched his brows, looking somewhat disbelievingly at Mo Xiuyao. "With the abilities of Prince Ding and Wang Fei, Mo Jingli shouldn’t have been able to cause trouble for so long." Mo Xiuyao chuckled, "Just a petty clown. Why should Zhennan Wang concern himself with him? Such trivial matters can be left to that boy Mo Yuchen to handle. If I were to intervene... it might seem like bullying." Not that Prince Ding was inexperienced in bullying, but using such tactics against someone like Mo Jingli felt somewhat beneath him.

A trace of surprise flashed in Lei Tengfeng's eyes. He hadn’t expected Prince Ding's Estate to start grooming the heir's capabilities so early. In his view, while Mo Xiuyao might be a strict father, Ye Li was undoubtedly a soft-hearted and doting mother. Recalling how he had been smugly sheltered under his father’s wing at twenty, Lei Tengfeng could only shake his head inwardly in shame.

Princess Anxi, who had also begun handling political affairs as Crown Princess in her teens, naturally wasn’t surprised by Mo Xiuyao’s words. She was simply extra grateful to Mo Xiaobao for saving her son.

Mo Xiaobao’s courtyard was located in the southeast corner of Prince Ding's Estate’s inner compound. To give their son ample private space, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao had allocated him one of the largest courtyards, second only to the main residence, along with a small garden when he reached the age of living alone. They generally didn’t interfere with how Mo Xiaobao used or arranged the place. The courtyard’s size rivaled that of an entire mansion belonging to an ordinary wealthy family, with plenty of rooms. Often, Xu Zhirui, Leng Junhan, and others would stay there for short periods.

By the time Mo Xiaobao returned to his courtyard, Leng Junhan and Xu Zhirui had already gone to bed. Being the youngest, they had spent the whole day running around with Mo Xiuyao and Qin Lie and were thoroughly exhausted. After washing up, they had immediately fallen asleep. Mo Xiaobao didn’t disturb them and headed straight to his own room.

As soon as he pushed open the door, Mo Xiaobao froze. A cold, sharp object was pressed against his waist, and an oddly familiar scent of osmanthus drifted from behind him. He wrinkled his nose—the smell was unmistakable. "Mo Jingli."

A hand swiftly struck several of his vital acupoints, immobilizing him. Then another hand yanked him forward. In the dimly lit room, a tall, sinister man glared at him with venomous eyes—it was indeed Mo Jingli.Mo Jingli dragged Mo Xiaobao, who had his acupoints sealed and was powerless to resist, into the inner room before lighting a candle on the side. The room gradually brightened, and Xiao Bao curiously studied the man before him. Dressed in the uniform of Prince Ding's shadow guard, his overly pale complexion and sinister, shadowy gaze made him look like a specter risen from hell.

"Mo Yuchen, you truly are impressive," Mo Jingli said darkly, staring at Xiao Bao.

Xiao Bao shrugged and grinned. "You're not bad yourself, managing to sneak into this young master's courtyard without a sound. Who helped you? There's no way you could bypass the estate's shadow guards and enter my courtyard undetected on your own."

Mo Jingli gave a strange smile. "Unfortunately, you'll never get the chance to find out."

Xiao Bao raised an eyebrow. "Tell me... you're not planning to kill me right now, are you?"

"You guessed right," Mo Jingli sneered. "Had I known you were such a cunning brat, I should've killed you the moment I caught you. Would've saved me a lot of trouble."

Xiao Bao's little face immediately fell. "Kill me, and you won't get out either."

Mo Jingli laughed. "If I could get in, I can get out." After a long silence, Xiao Bao finally sighed in resignation. "You're right. Go ahead."

Had he not said this, Mo Jingli might have acted immediately. But now, Mo Jingli hesitated, eyeing him suspiciously. "What scheme are you plotting now?" Xiao Bao rolled his eyes. "What scheme could I possibly have when I'm about to die? Can't I mourn my short life?"

Mo Jingli remained silent. After a moment, Xiao Bao looked up and asked, "Oh, and after I die, remember to stay away from me. No—remember to die far away from me."

"What do you mean?" Mo Jingli demanded.

Xiao Bao looked somewhat guilty. "Earlier in the courtyard, you drank quite a bit of wine, didn't you?"

"What of it?" He had indeed drunk a lot, but it shouldn't have affected him much. Xiao Bao fidgeted with his fingers. "I might've... accidentally added something to the wine. Might make your death... less than dignified. So, just stay away from me." Seeing Xiao Bao's earnest expression, Mo Jingli's eyes nearly bulged with rage as he growled, "Mo Yuchen!"

"Can't blame me for this," Xiao Bao declared solemnly.

"What poison did you give me?"

Xiao Bao shook his head repeatedly, looking at him with pity. "Since we're both going to die, does it even matter? If you can kill yourself before the poison takes effect, it won't make a difference."

The furious Mo Jingli suddenly stilled, studying Xiao Bao for a long moment before scoffing. "I almost forgot—your cunning is no less than your father's. Nearly fell for your trick." Xiao Bao rolled his eyes again, unperturbed. "This young master only asks that you die far away from me.""What kind of poison did you give me?" Mo Jingli roared in fury. A man like him lacked the courage to go all out, making him easily frightened by baseless threats. Had Mo Xiaobao straightforwardly told him what poison was used, he wouldn’t have been so tense. It was precisely Xiaobao’s ambiguous attitude that unsettled him. In short, his imagination ran wild.

Mo Xiaobao gazed at him with an innocent expression, his eyes practically screaming, "Just die already and be reborn."

After glaring at Xiaobao for a long time, a flash of bloodlust flickered in Mo Jingli’s eyes. Finally, he steeled himself, drew a dagger, and aimed it at Xiaobao’s chest. "Since you refuse to talk, keep it to yourself."

"Mo Jingli, were you looking for me? Haha, you fool, if you can’t even recognize people, what are you doing out here?" A crisp, cheerful voice laced with malicious mockery drifted in from outside the door. Mo Jingli froze, staring in disbelief at the person before him. The "Mo Xiaobao" forced to sit on the stool gave him a helpless, bitter smile. "I really don’t know what poison he gave you. Also, my surname isn’t Mo."

"You’re not Mo Yuchen?"

"Mo Xiaobao" shrugged. "Why don’t you go out and see for yourself?"

Mo Jingli grabbed "Xiaobao" and dragged him to the door. Peering through the gap, he clearly saw a radiantly handsome youth in dark brocade standing in the courtyard—looking identical to the "Mo Xiaobao" beside him. But under the moonlight, the boy’s eyes brimmed with undisguised scorn and schadenfreude toward those inside.

"Qin Lie, you idiot, how’d you get caught again?" the Mo Xiaobao in the courtyard called out irritably. The "Xiaobao" in Mo Jingli’s grip rolled his eyes, equally annoyed. "And whose fault is that?" Damn it, he’d just been waiting for someone to return so they could discuss their next steps—he hadn’t even had time to remove his disguise or change clothes yet!

Mo Xiaobao rubbed his chin, then nodded with a rare show of conscience. "Fine. Mo Jingli, come out now. If you hurt Qin Lie, you won’t escape either." Mo Jingli sneered. "You come over and take his place."

Qin Lie shot him a disdainful look. "Are you out of your mind? Do you even know who I am? Do you think Prince Ding’s Estate would trade its heir for a shadow guard’s life?" Though he’d earned the right to join the Qilin, until he completed formal training, he was still just a shadow guard. The thought depressed him. If he died like this without being posthumously recognized as a Qilin member, he’d haunt Mo Xiaobao forever.

The sheer resentment in the air made Xiaobao’s nape tingle. Rubbing his head, he grinned. "Well... swapping isn’t an option. How about I give you the antidote instead?"

"What antidote?" Mo Jingli eyed him warily before scoffing. "What use is an antidote to me now?"

Rebuffed, Mo Xiaobao fixed him with a mournful stare. "You’ll regret this."Mo Jingli sneered coldly, refusing to answer or step outside. Qin Lie was much shorter than him, and if they went out, the Mo Family Army's sharpshooters could ambush them, leaving him without even a human shield. But Mo Jingli also knew that dragging this out wasn't a solution. If the person he held was truly Mo Yuchen, he could at least take him down with him. But now, with just an insignificant shadow guard, Mo Jingli hesitated. Exchanging his life for a shadow guard's? He deeply felt it wasn't worth it.

Amidst the commotion, Mo Xiuyao had already arrived with the others. Seeing Mo Xiaobao standing in the courtyard with a resentful and conflicted expression, Mo Xiuyao scoffed, "What, caught again?" Mo Xiaobao clenched his jaw and glared fiercely at his father. What did he mean by 'again'?! When had Mo Yuchen ever been caught before?

Ye Li gently patted her son's head and frowned, "Is Qin Lie inside?"

Mo Xiaobao nodded heavily. Though he appeared calm on the surface, he was actually quite tense. Who knew if that lunatic Mo Jingli, realizing he had no way out, might recklessly stab Qin Lie?

Mo Xiuyao led Ye Li forward a few steps and said coolly, "Mo Jingli, since you're already here, stop hiding. Come out." There was no response from inside for a long while, but eventually, Mo Jingli's voice echoed from within, "Mo Xiuyao, do you take me for a fool?"

Mo Xiuyao couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Aren't you? This prince let you go, yet you came back on your own. Did you really think I'd let you leave again this time? Who gave you the confidence to believe you could harm my son within Prince Ding's Estate? Step out on your own, and I'll make your death quick."

Inside the room, Mo Jingli tightly gripped Qin Lie, pressing him against the door. Qin Lie, uncomfortable from the hold, shifted slightly and sighed, "Holding me really won't help. I'm just a shadow guard by the young master's side. Do you think Wang Ye would spare you for my sake? And even if he did, the young master poisoned you—you wouldn't get far anyway."

Mo Jingli stared at him with a twisted grin, "Are you encouraging me to take you down with me?"

Qin Lie wisely shut his mouth. He didn't want to die, and even if he had to, he certainly didn't want to die alongside Mo Jingli.

"Mo Xiuyao, call off all your archers!" For someone holding a hostage, the greatest fear was the unseen archers lurking in the shadows, impossible to guard against—especially Prince Ding's Estate's sharpshooters, who were the best of the best.

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and gestured dismissively, "Fine by me."

"How can I trust you?" Mo Jingli demanded suspiciously.

Mo Xiuyao replied impatiently, "How should I know how to make you believe me? Come out if you want, or don't." Perhaps sensing Mo Xiuyao's impatience, Mo Jingli finally wavered. The leverage he held was too weak—just a shadow guard impersonating the estate's young master was hardly enough to bargain with Mo Xiuyao.

"Let me leave Prince Ding's Estate," Mo Jingli gritted out.Mo Xiuyao immediately found amusement in the situation, lazily eyeing the tightly shut door as he chuckled, "Mo Jingli, do you think I'm playing games with you? Or that I'd engage in some cat-and-mouse chase with you? Do you even have that kind of worth?"

After another long moment, the door was finally pulled open from inside, and Mo Jingli emerged, dragging Qin Lie with him. He held Qin Lie in front of himself as a shield, one hand gripping the boy while the other pressed a dagger against his back. At the slightest sign of trouble, he could plunge the blade into Qin Lie without hesitation.

Mo Xiuyao cast a sidelong glance at Mo Jingli, his tone indifferent. "Finally decided to come out, have you? So... what's your plan now?" Mo Jingli warily eyed the crowd gathered in the courtyard. Even without archers present, he knew escaping Prince Ding's Estate alive was impossible with so many people surrounding him. Under the flickering candlelight, his gaze landed on Mo Xiaobao standing beside Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. The child looked identical to the one he held, but the sharp, cunning glint in his eyes confirmed it—this was the true heir of Prince Ding's Estate, Mo Yuchen. The brat's disdainful look was exactly the same as his father's in his youth.

Still gripping Qin Lie, Mo Jingli glared at Mo Xiuyao and demanded, "If you don't want this brat dead, back off."

Mo Xiuyao remained unfazed, clearly unbothered by the threat.

"What about you, Little Prince? Do you share your father's disregard for this boy's life? He was captured because of you, wasn't he?" Mo Jingli smirked maliciously at Mo Xiaobao. Seeing Qin Lie wince in pain, Mo Xiaobao's cheerful expression darkened instantly. He glared hatefully at Mo Jingli and snapped, "Let him go."

"Let me leave," Mo Jingli countered without hesitation.

"Impossible," Mo Xiaobao gritted out.

Mo Jingli actually felt a flicker of satisfaction at the boy's anger and taunted, "Then come here and take his place."

"Fine!" Mo Xiaobao declared loudly. Everyone froze in shock—even Mo Jingli had spoken mockingly, never expecting the child to agree so readily.

"Your Highness, reconsider!" The attendants around Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li panicked, rushing to dissuade him. In their eyes, a hundred Qin Lies couldn't compare to the value of one Mo Xiaobao. It wasn't that they belittled others' lives, but in this world, no one would equate the life of a shadow guard to that of Prince Ding's future heir.

Mo Jingli hesitated, scrutinizing Mo Xiaobao cautiously. "You're serious?" Mo Xiaobao lifted his chin proudly. "Of course. If I were afraid of you, I wouldn't be Mo Yuchen."

Mo Jingli glanced at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li standing nearby. Amidst the clamoring crowd urging caution, the boy's parents remained oddly silent.

"Mother?" Mo Xiaobao looked up at Ye Li. A faint smile touched her lips as she reached out to ruffle his hair. "Xiao Bao, you've grown up. Make your own decision. Just... be careful." Mo Xiaobao's face brightened, and he nodded firmly. "I understand. Thank you, Mother."After speaking, Mo Xiaobao raised his hands to show Mo Jingli that he wasn't carrying any weapons and then slowly began walking toward them. When he was just three steps away from Mo Jingli, he glared at him and said, "Release Qin Lie."

With Mo Xiaobao now in his grasp, Mo Jingli naturally no longer cared about Qin Lie. Besides, it was impossible for him to handle two hostages alone, so he shoved Qin Lie away with one hand while simultaneously reaching for Mo Xiaobao with the other.

"Die!" Qin Lie, who had been pushed away, didn't fall back. Instead, he twisted his body and lunged toward Mo Jingli. At the same time, Mo Xiaobao leaped into the air and kicked straight at Mo Jingli's face. Though caught off guard, Mo Jingli wasn't unprepared. Knowing Mo Xiaobao's cunning, he was well aware that the boy wouldn't surrender so easily. But he had to take the gamble—otherwise, even with Qin Lie as a hostage, he would inevitably meet his end. So, as Mo Xiaobao's foot shot toward his face, Mo Jingli dodged to the side and immediately struck at Mo Xiaobao's vital points.

Qin Lie's acupoints had been sealed, and though he had managed to loosen some of the blockages in that short time, mustering the strength for this attack was already a struggle. Soon, Mo Jingli kicked him aside. The nearby shadow guards quickly rushed forward to help him up, finding that he hadn't suffered any serious injuries.

Feng Zhiyao and the others who had followed immediately moved to assist Mo Xiaobao, but Mo Xiuyao raised his hand to stop them.

"Wang Ye!" Feng Zhiyao frowned disapprovingly at Mo Xiuyao. Given Mo Xiaobao's martial arts skills, he was absolutely no match for Mo Jingli. Mo Xiuyao said calmly, "No need to worry, let him try. If you all had been willing to fight him seriously during practice, we wouldn't be so concerned now."

As the heir of Prince Ding's Estate, Mo Xiaobao held a noble status. Although he trained diligently in martial arts, his privileged position meant that few dared to spar with him in earnest, let alone fight him with real intent. This resulted in a severe lack of practical combat experience for the young prince. In contrast, Mo Xiuyao had at least faced occasional ambushes from hostile nobles in his youth, whereas Xiaobao had grown up getting everything he wanted without hardship.

The fight between Xiao Bao and Mo Jingli was nothing short of spectacular. Despite his small stature and mediocre inner energy, Xiaobao—having spent long years among the Qilin and possessing a naturally twisted moral compass—fought with ruthless cunning, showing no trace of nervousness or restraint for someone in his first life-or-death battle. If he were just a couple of years older, one might easily believe he was a seasoned killer.

Standing nearby, Lei Tengfeng couldn't help but admire Xiaobao's performance. With a son like this, Prince Ding's Estate would surely remain unshaken for the next fifty years.

"Wang Ye, are we raising a young prince or an assassin? The Little Prince's moves... why do they seem even more vicious than those of the King of Hell Pavilion?" Feng Zhiyao lamented. The assassins of the King of Hell Pavilion were merely ruthless, but their young prince fought not only ruthlessly but also with downright vulgarity. It was almost unbearable to watch—what kind of twelve-year-old boy used moves like "Monkey Steals Peach" in every single strike? Was this really acceptable?

Mo Xiuyao remained unfazed. "As long as he wins, it's fine. Once his martial arts improve, he'll naturally correct it." Who would willingly use such vulgar techniques? It was only because he lacked the skill for more refined methods. Once Xiaobao became strong enough to dominate, his naturally boastful personality would surely lead him to adopt more honorable moves.

Feng Zhiyao shook his head with a sigh. "The Xu Family elders would be heartbroken if they knew." Half of Xiaobao's education had been overseen by the Xu Family. Even if they couldn't mold him into a refined gentleman like Qingchen Gongzi, they had at least hoped for a cultured and dignified scholar.

Mo Xiuyao scoffed. "Better to raise a wolf than a sheep. I have no patience to constantly clean up after him." Xiaobao's future responsibilities would go far beyond mere governance—if he were too naive and came running to him with every problem, Mo Xiuyao would be tempted to smack him dead.

Despite Xiaobao's best efforts, the gap in strength was too great, and he was eventually overwhelmed by Mo Jingli's attacks. Unconcerned with pride, Xiaobao abandoned the fight and began darting wildly around the courtyard. At first, Mo Jingli remained wary of Mo Xiuyao and the others intervening, but once he realized they had no intention of stepping in—and that the shadow guards of the Mo Family Army would only act if he tried to escape—he poured all his fury into chasing Xiaobao.

Cornered and running for his life, Xiaobao howled as he fled, "Shen! Did your medicine expire or something? Aaaaah!"Shen Yang, who was sleeping soundly in his own courtyard, turned over in his sleep and muttered, "You brat, when has this divine doctor's medicine ever failed?"

Just as Mo Xiaobao was darting around using his Light Body Skill, pondering whether to swallow his pride and ask his father for help, he suddenly noticed that Mo Jingli's pursuit had noticeably slowed down. Amidst the chaos, Xiaobao glanced back and, though the dim light made it hard to see Mo Jingli's expression clearly, he could distinctly see that Mo Jingli's clothes were soaked with sweat. If the one being chased wasn't even breaking a sweat while the pursuer was already drenched... that clearly didn't make sense. Xiaobao's eyes gleamed with mischief as he pulled something from his pocket and threw it at Mo Jingli, shouting, "Here's the antidote!" Then he dashed at top speed toward Mo Xiuyao, who had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines.

After chasing Mo Xiaobao for several rounds, Mo Jingli began to feel something was off. A strange, creeping heat gradually surged through him, slowly affecting his body. Only then did he truly believe Qin Lie hadn't lied—he really had been poisoned.

So when Xiaobao yelled "antidote," Mo Jingli paused and caught the object hurled at him. By the time he realized it was just a random jade pendant Xiaobao had tossed, the boy had already flung himself into Mo Xiuyao's arms. But Mo Jingli had no time to dwell on Xiaobao's underhanded tactics—the bizarre poison had already begun to take effect. Two hours had passed since he drank the wine, and though he hadn't felt anything earlier, the symptoms now erupted like wildfire, spreading uncontrollably in an instant.

"You—" Mo Jingli broke into a cold sweat, his entire body drenched as if he'd been dunked in water. He collapsed to the ground, his insides burning as if scorched by flames, mixed with an inexplicable, unsettling urge. These strange pains tangled together, making him feel as though he were being gnawed at by insects.

This sudden turn of events left everyone stunned. Their gazes toward Mo Xiaobao grew increasingly peculiar. "Uh... Young Master, what kind of poison did you give him?" Feng Zhiyao asked with a frown. Mo Jingli didn’t seem to be in pain—or rather, was there any part of him that wasn’t in pain? And what kind of poison caused profuse sweating without any blood, leaving the victim flushed and seemingly unharmed?

Han Mingxi, standing nearby, cast a pitying glance at Mo Jingli, then at Xiaobao, who was panting in Mo Xiuyao's arms. He rubbed his nose and decided to keep quiet.

Mo Xiuyao glanced at Xiaobao and patted Ye Li's hand. "A Li, you should go rest first. There's nothing more to see here." Ye Li frowned slightly, looking at Xiaobao nestled in Mo Xiuyao's arms, his innocent smile directed at her. She sighed softly and nodded. "I’ll head back. You all... don’t take it too far. Enough playing around."

Xiaobao nodded eagerly, waving at Ye Li. "Mhm, goodnight, Mother."Watching Ye Li lead the others away, Mo Xiuyao snorted lightly and casually tossed Mo Xiaobao aside. The little boy flipped midair and landed steadily on the ground. "Father, you're so cruel," he said, his big dark eyes glistening with unshed tears as he gazed pitifully at Mo Xiuyao. Mo Xiuyao couldn't help but twitch his lips. Who on earth had taught Mo Xiaobao to be so shameless?

Pouting, Mo Xiaobao let out a soft huff. Faced with a father who treated his son like weeds, what use was pride? This little prince was simply using softness to overcome hardness—a perfectly valid strategy.

Nearby, Feng Zhiyao cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, Your Highness, Young Prince... shouldn't we deal with that?" He pointed at the figure writhing in pain on the ground. Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. "Was the poison my doing?"

"Young Prince?" Feng Zhiyao turned to Mo Xiaobao.

Only to find the boy trying to sneak away while dragging Qin Lie along. Caught in the act, Mo Xiaobao reluctantly turned back and shot Feng Zhiyao a resentful glare. Feng Zhiyao had no idea what he'd done to offend the little lord, so he could only rub his nose and chuckle. "Young Prince, what exactly did you poison him with? We still need to interrogate him. In this state... it's rather inconvenient." Given Mo Jingli's current condition, even a brutal beating probably wouldn't faze him.

Mo Xiaobao opened his mouth, then turned a pleading gaze toward Qin Lie. The latter looked up at the sky—what a beautifully round moon tonight.

Stomping his foot, Mo Xiaobao scurried over to Feng Zhiyao and whispered conspiratorially, "Don't tell my mother, okay?" After a brief hesitation, Feng Zhiyao nodded. Satisfied, Mo Xiaobao leaned in and murmured a few words into his ear. Feng Zhiyao froze, then stared at the boy in disbelief. "But I remember Wang Fei said—" Mo Xiaobao glared at him furiously. "That's why I said don't. Tell. Mother!"

For good measure, he shot Feng Zhiyao what he clearly believed was a threatening look before grabbing Qin Lie and bolting. In the distance, Qin Lie's puzzled voice drifted back: "I thought you wanted to watch the show?" Mo Xiaobao sounded flustered. "Does that look like a good show to you?!"

"Uh... not really." All he could see was Mo Jingli twisting on the ground, moaning in agony. Even torture would have been more entertaining.

Watching the two boys flee, Feng Zhiyao's expression twisted in a rare display of distress. Han Mingxi, who had already drawn his own conclusions, cheerfully patted Feng Zhiyao's shoulder. "What did the Young Prince say?"

Feng Zhiyao weakly waved a hand. "Could someone... take him to a brothel?" A place like Prince Ding's Estate certainly couldn't allow courtesans inside. Damn it, the Young Prince was only eleven—eleven!—and he'd already dosed Mo Jingli with an aphrodisiac twice. What were they supposed to do with that? He shot a reproachful look at Mo Xiuyao. "Wang Ye, this subordinate believes you and Wang Fei need to strengthen the Young Prince's education."

Mo Xiuyao's lips twitched, and for once, he nodded silently in agreement. After a pause, he added, "As for the brothel... perhaps you should ask Shen Yang if he has an antidote." This was what they called the pupil surpassing the master. Mo Xiaobao's actions had taken Mo Xiuyao's teachings to new heights—or depths. The prince had to admit he'd never in his life conceived of such a diabolically brilliant idea. The man who had wanted to teach his son how to be wicked now deeply regretted his naivety."Call Shen Yang now? We'd be asking to be killed," Feng Zhiyao shook his head repeatedly.

Han Mingxi coughed lightly and said, "I remember... Shen mentioned that the drug... isn't exactly poison, so an antidote can't be prepared for now."

Mo Xiuyao rubbed his nose and waved his hand, "You all handle this yourselves. This prince is leaving first." Prince Ding decisively made his escape, leaving the mess for his subordinates to clean up. Mo Jingli, lying on the ground in agony, wished he could die right then. Though every part of his body was in unbearable pain, as if he were about to explode, he heard every word of the conversation between Feng Zhiyao and the others clearly.

"Kill me... just kill me!" Mo Jingli finally understood what the greatest suffering in life was. He even wished he had never stepped foot into Prince Ding's Estate—that this was just a terrible nightmare. Or that Mo Xiuyao had killed him outright in the main hall earlier. A man... a man who had long lost his manhood, yet was now dosed with an aphrodisiac. Even though he had lost certain abilities, it didn't mean Mo Jingli had lost all sensation. In fact, his suffering was twice that of a normal man. What terrified him even more was the thought of others finding out...

Drenched in sweat, Mo Jingli couldn't help but shudder. "Mo Xiuyao! If you have the guts, kill me! Do it now!" At this point, Mo Jingli could no longer hide anything. His voice turned shrill and piercing, grating on the ears of those present. Many in the room had frequented the imperial palace and immediately recognized the strangeness in his voice—it was the same sharp tone used by eunuchs who served in the palace. Mo Jingli had always been a manly and imposing figure, his voice deep and resonant, especially after turning thirty. The sudden contrast with this unnatural shrillness sent chills down everyone's spines.

"What... what's going on?" Feng Zhiyao asked in horror. Mo Xiuyao was actually quite decent in character—at the very least, he had never publicly disclosed the cruel things he had done to Mo Jingli. And Mo Jingli himself certainly wouldn't go around boasting about it either. Thus, when Mo Jingli suddenly emitted such an eerie voice, all eyes inevitably fell upon a certain part of his body.

Lei Tengfeng coughed lightly and whispered, "Prince Li hasn't... since the late Wang Fei gave birth to a heir..." He suspected that Mo Jingli might have lost his manhood over a decade ago. Feng Zhiyao and the others from Prince Ding's Estate stroked their chins thoughtfully. From what they knew, Prince Li had been tricked by their lord into giving up many things in exchange for an antidote back then. Had their lord not only swindled him but also given him a fake antidote, rendering him not only infertile but also incapable of being a man?

Mo Xiuyao, who had been misunderstood, coughed lightly and waved his hand. "Feng San, I leave this matter to you." With that, he gracefully departed, ignoring the strange looks from everyone.

Lei Tengfeng and Yelv Hong, who had arrived later, cast pitying glances at Mo Jingli on the ground. Awkwardly, they smiled and said, "We should head back too. The banquet in the main hall is probably still going. Crown Prince of Northern Rong, shall we return for another drink?"Yelv Hong nodded and left with Lei Tengfeng, leaving this hot potato for the people of Prince Ding's Estate. They only needed to know that Mo Jingli would never be able to recover from this. Feng Zhiyao was on the verge of tears—capturing a prisoner was no problem, but what was he supposed to do with a prisoner who was under the influence of a potent aphrodisiac with no way to relieve it?

Han Mingxi rubbed his nose and chuckled, "Well... he'll just have to endure it." Even as he said it, he felt a little guilty. An ordinary person might be able to endure it, but in this case... no one could say for sure whether it was possible. The Little Prince was truly ruthless. No one would believe he had no idea about Mo Jingli's condition. Who would go out of their way to drug someone with an aphrodisiac for no reason?

In the bedroom of the main courtyard, Ye Li had washed up and removed her jewelry and makeup, leisurely reclining on a soft couch with a book in hand. Though it was already past the fourth watch, after such a busy day, she found herself unexpectedly awake now that she had relaxed. So she sat by the bed, reading while waiting for Mo Xiuyao to return.

"Wang Fei, it's so late already. You should have some soup and rest early," Qing Shuang said softly as she brought over a bowl of chicken soup. Ye Li smiled and nodded, taking a sip. "It tastes wonderful. No one makes it as well as you, Qingshuang. I’m almost reluctant to let you marry," she teased. Qingshuang's cheeks flushed pink as she pouted, "Wang Fei, you're teasing me again."

Ye Li sighed lightly. "I’m not teasing. You’ve been by my side the longest. Once this... matter is settled, Wang Ye and I will personally oversee your wedding with A Jin."

Qingshuang’s eyes reddened slightly. "There’s no one in this world who treats me better than Wang Fei."

Ye Li chuckled helplessly. "Silly girl, why are you crying? Go see if Wang Ye has returned. Leave these trivial tasks to the servants." Qingshuang hesitated but finally nodded. "Yes, this servant will take her leave."

A short while later, Qingshuang returned with a smile. "Wang Fei, Wang Ye has gone to the study—" She paused when she saw Ye Li, still holding the book, had fallen asleep on the couch. The half-finished bowl of soup beside her had already cooled.

"Wang Fei?" Qingshuang approached quietly, gazing at the serene face before her, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes. "Wang Fei... are you asleep?" Ye Li remained undisturbed, her breathing even. Qingshuang bit her lip and whispered, "Wang Fei... forgive me..." She stood up and raised a hand, aiming a precise strike at the sleeping Ye Li. The practiced technique and strength in her fingers revealed formidable internal energy—perhaps even greater than Qingluan’s, who had once served by Ye Li’s side.

A delicate hand intercepted her finger. Ye Li slowly opened her eyes and sighed in disappointment. "Qingshuang, you’ve let me down."

"W-Wang Fei?" Qingshuang’s expression changed, and she forced a smile. "Wang Fei, what do you mean? This servant doesn’t understand." Ye Li shook her head with a faint smile. "How could you not understand? Drunken Aloes is indeed the hardest narcotic to detect, but... you shouldn’t have added mushrooms to the soup. Didn’t you notice the off smell? Shen once said that Drunken Aloes is incompatible with many things—like orchids, or mushrooms..."Qingshuang knew that since she had been discovered, there was no way to hide the truth from Ye Li. With a heavy voice, she said, "Wang Fei, forgive my offense!" She withdrew her hand from Ye Li's grasp and raised her palm to strike at Ye Li.

Ye Li was not one to back down either. With one hand bracing against the soft couch, she leaped up and kicked out. Having been by Ye Li's side for over a decade, Qingshuang knew her strength better than anyone and dared not underestimate her. She drew a flexible sword and thrust it toward Ye Li. Ye Li's eyes darkened as a short blade swiftly shot from her sleeve, a flash of silver light darting straight at Qingshuang.

"Seeking death!"

Before Qingshuang's sword could reach its target, a voice filled with malice rang out from the doorway. A fierce gust of wind swept toward Qingshuang, sending her flying into the wall. She spat out a mouthful of blood and could no longer get up.

Mo Xiuyao stood at the entrance, looking down at Qingshuang with cold, emotionless eyes as if she were already dead. Knowing she could not escape death today, Qingshuang closed her eyes and resigned herself to her fate.

"Xiu Yao, don't," Ye Li said, grasping Mo Xiuyao's raised hand and shaking her head gently. Mo Xiuyao looked down at Ye Li's pleading eyes and sighed softly. "Don't grieve for others," he murmured. Ye Li gave him a faint smile. "I won't grieve for others." Turning back to Qingshuang, she asked solemnly, "Qingshuang, why?"

Having closed her eyes to await death but feeling no pain after a long moment, Qingshuang opened her eyes in confusion, her gaze filled with bewilderment. Ye Li sighed quietly, remaining silent.

In the flower hall, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li sat in the main seats, with Mo Xiaobao seated nearby. Xu Qingbai, Head Steward Mo, A Jin, and others who had heard the news had also arrived. Qingshuang knelt in the center of the hall, her expression bleak and her spirit broken.

"Wang Ye, Wang Fei, this old servant... this old servant..." Uncle Mo let out a long sigh and knelt on the ground. "Please punish this old servant." Ye Li stood and helped him up, speaking softly, "Uncle Mo, what are you doing? This matter... this matter is my fault toward you and A Jin." Qingshuang and A Jin's marriage had already been arranged, making Qingshuang practically part of their family. If Qingshuang was involved in wrongdoing, their family would also be implicated. But Qingshuang had been Ye Li's maid for over a decade, making Ye Li feel even more guilty. "Uncle Mo, please rise. If you say such things... I truly have no face to face you."

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Wang Fei is right. Uncle Mo, your family has been utterly loyal to Prince Ding's Estate. This matter truly has nothing to do with you. A Jin, I will find you a good wife later, alright?" Mo Xiuyao had always been patient with the taciturn A Jin, who had followed him since childhood. Though not particularly clever, A Jin was all the more loyal.

A Jin hesitated before nodding. He had known Qingshuang for many years, since they were both naive youths. Though their relationship was not like that of Wang Fei and Wang Ye, he had been very happy when Wang Fei proposed marrying Qingshuang to him. Seeing Qingshuang like this now pained him deeply, but he stubbornly turned his head away, refusing to look at her. Wang Ye and Wang Fei were the best people, the ones they were sworn to serve. Anyone who sought to harm them was in the wrong.Ye Li helped Uncle Mo sit down to the side before turning back to look at Qingshuang and asking calmly, "Qingshuang, why?"

Qingshuang looked up at Ye Li with a helpless bitter smile and said, "Hasn't Wang Fei already known for a long time?" Ye Li studied Qingshuang carefully. She still remembered when she first brought Qingshuang back to the estate—she had been an innocent, adorable child under ten years old. In the blink of an eye, over a decade had passed, and the woman before her, eyes filled with resignation, bore no trace of that little girl from back then.

"Are you from the Boundless Mountains?" Ye Li asked.

Qingshuang nodded. Ye Li continued, "The Boundless Mountains ceased to exist long ago. I know you haven’t betrayed Prince Ding's Estate all these years—otherwise, you would have been exposed long before now. Back then… when the Boundless Mountains fell, why didn’t you tell me? Did you think I would kill you if you revealed the truth?"

Qingshuang shook her head and gazed at Ye Li. "I know Wang Fei has been very kind to me. It is I who have wronged you. At this point, Qingshuang only seeks death."

Ye Li closed her eyes briefly, her gentle and elegant face tinged with anger. "Only seeks death? What a fine 'only seeks death'! In your eyes, is life so worthless? You refuse to say anything, refuse to explain, and simply demand death? Or… is it because Prince Ding's Estate destroyed the Boundless Mountains, and you harbor resentment? If that’s the case… I will grant your wish. Qingshuang, tell me—is your heart still with the Boundless Mountains?"

Qingshuang lowered her head in silence. Ye Li sighed and shook her head. "No, it isn’t. You’ve been by my side since you were eight or nine, and later followed me into Prince Ding's Estate. If you truly had any lingering loyalty to the Boundless Mountains, you would have gathered plenty of information over the years to pass on to its master. You even had the best opportunities to get close to Xiao Bao, Lin'er, and Xin'er—yet you never did anything. Qingshuang, tell me, what is the real reason?"

Qingshuang stared blankly at Ye Li before finally lowering her head after a long pause. Crystal tears slid from the corners of her eyes, falling one by one onto the floor before her.

"Wang Fei… sob…" Qingshuang looked at Ye Li, large teardrops rolling down her cheeks. Ye Li watched her calmly, her expression gentle, and said softly, "Tell me, what really happened? Is there… is there something Mo Jingli is holding over you?"

Qingshuang nodded. "My family… I have a younger brother. He’s in Prince Li’s hands. If I don’t do as he says, my brother will die."

"Your brother?" Ye Li frowned. "You’re not an orphan?" Back when Ye Li had first encountered Qingshuang, she had been a starving orphan girl on the streets, and later, Qingshuang had claimed her parents had drowned in a flood. Ye Li shook her head—since Qingshuang was from the Boundless Mountains, all of that had naturally been fabricated.

Qingshuang shook her head and whispered, "I lost both parents when I was young and grew up in the Boundless Mountains with my brother. The year I met Wang Fei, there was a flood, and the Boundless Mountains sent a group of us to infiltrate Chu Jing, aiming to secretly enter the households of noble families. I disguised myself as a displaced orphan and was fortunate enough to be rescued by Wang Fei."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "So, you weren’t originally meant to enter the Ye household?"Qingshuang bit her lip and said, "For spies like us, many go their entire lives without receiving any missions and can live peacefully like ordinary people. When Wang Fei bought me back, I knew she was Prince Li's fiancée, so following her into the Ye family wasn't wrong. Later... Wang Fei had her engagement broken by Prince Li, but unexpectedly married into Prince Ding's Estate. I just wanted a peaceful life, so... I persuaded the people from Boundless Mountains that if I leaked information about Prince Ding's Estate, it would surely arouse suspicion from Wang Ye and Wang Fei. Rather than risking exposure for trivial information, it was better to save it for crucial moments... For years after that, Boundless Mountains never asked me for any information again. Moreover... Prince Ding's Estate is heavily guarded, and I truly didn't know any truly important secrets. It wasn't until shortly after Madam Dongfang passed away that Prince Li sent someone to find me. I had been putting him off before, but this time he came to Li Cheng personally and brought my younger brother's token..."

Qingshuang recounted her story intermittently, and those listening couldn't help but sigh. A girl raised by Boundless Mountains from childhood, with a younger brother held hostage—Qingshuang had her own hardships.

"What does Mo Jingli want you to do?" Ye Li asked. Qingshuang lowered her eyes and said hoarsely, "If... if he doesn't leave Li Cheng alive, someone will kill my brother. Unless I can save him or... kill Wang Fei... I don’t want to kill Wang Fei..." Ye Li looked at her and said, "So, you wanted to exploit my trust in you, capture me, and then force Prince Ding's Estate to release Mo Jingli?"

Qingshuang silently nodded.

"Why not tell me directly?" Ye Li asked. "You must know Mo Jingli's character—don’t you think the likelihood of him silencing you after the deed is higher than letting your brother go? Comparatively, having Prince Ding's Estate intervene would give you better odds of saving him, wouldn’t it?"

Tears streamed down Qingshuang's face. Fear for her loved one had clouded her judgment—her brother was her only family left in the world, and seeing his token had thrown her into turmoil. She had unwittingly been coerced by Mo Jingli into doing something she shouldn’t have. Some principles are hard to uphold, but once abandoned, they’re impossible to reclaim. Without her help, how could Mo Jingli have moved so freely in and out of Li Cheng?

Seeing her tear-streaked face, Ye Li sighed softly. "When Mo Jingli came to Li Cheng, he was already like a stray dog—why would he have brought your brother with him? Now that he’s been captured by Prince Ding's Estate, how would you even have the chance to kill your brother? Qingshuang, if what Mo Jingli said is true, your brother might still be in Jiangnan. But there’s at least a sixty percent chance..." he’s already dead.

Hearing Ye Li's words, Qingshuang stared blankly, lost in thought.

Ye Li rubbed her temples wearily and waved her hand. "Take her away for now. Send someone to investigate her brother’s whereabouts."

"Yes, Wang Fei." Qin Feng gestured, and two shadow guards escorted Qingshuang out."Miss... I'm sorry..." Qingshuang, held by two guards, turned back to look at Ye Li, biting her lip in shame. Ye Li shook her head and said, "Go ahead for now." Only after Qingshuang was taken away did the parlor quiet down. Suspicion of Qingshuang hadn't just begun tonight—after all, only someone close to Prince Ding's Estate could have known so much information and secretly aided Mo Jingli. Since Qingyu, Qingluan, Qingxia, and others had left, Qingshuang was the only remaining person by Ye Li's side whom she trusted and held dear.

Although the other three often visited the estate, Qingyu and Qingluan were well-vetted by the Xu Family. As for Qingxia, though Ye Li had once doubted her origins, she was merely a spy planted by Wang Shi. Moreover, Qingxia was clever—over the years, she had remained obedient, and after leaving the household, she dutifully became a wife and mother. None of these three could help Mo Jingli now. Though suspicions had long existed, when Qingxia finally acted, Ye Li couldn't help but feel sorrow and regret.

Mo Xiuyao gently took Ye Li's hand and asked softly, "A Li, why did you spare her?" For someone who had betrayed A Li and even attempted to abduct her, Mo Xiuyao was never one to show mercy. Had it not been for Ye Li's resolute insistence on sparing Qingshuang despite her sadness, he would have struck her down long ago.

Ye Li sighed. "She... has been with me for over a decade, after all. Fortunately, no irreparable harm was done. Let's wait and see." Mo Xiuyao frowned. "I don’t care what you think—even if she was coerced, someone like that can never stay by your side again."

"I know. I wasn’t planning on it." Seeing Mo Xiuyao's stern expression, Ye Li smiled faintly. Though she had spared Qingshuang out of their years of companionship, how could she possibly keep her close? Some things... once they happen, can never be erased. A trace will always remain in the hearts of those involved.

Noticing Ye Li's lingering melancholy, Xu Qingbai smiled gently. "Li'er, don’t dwell on it too much. Over these past ten years, that girl never leaked any information about Prince Ding's Estate or you to the Boundless Mountains. In a way... these years weren’t entirely wasted." People are inherently selfish—blood relatives always come first. Even the Xu Family, hailed as the epitome of integrity, would choose their own kin over outsiders. Qingshuang had simply chosen the wrong way to resolve things, sealing the fate of their decade-long bond into oblivion.

Knowing her fourth brother was trying to comfort her, Ye Li smiled softly. "Fourth Brother, don’t worry. I’m fine."

"Your subordinate Feng Zhiyao requests an audience with Wang Fei!" came a hurried voice from outside.

"Enter." Ye Li watched as Feng Zhiyao strode in with a strange expression and quickly asked, "What’s wrong? Did something happen with Mo Jingli...?" Third Master Feng's handsome face twisted slightly. "Mo Jingli is dead."

"Dead?" Ye Li was startled. "How?" Mo Jingli didn’t seem like the type to choose death over dishonor. Moreover, when Mo Xiuyao returned earlier, he had only mentioned capturing Mo Jingli—how could he be dead so soon?Feng Zhiyao scratched his head in frustration, forcing out a faint smile as he said, "Anyway, Mo Jingli is already dead. That... what I actually wanted to ask was how to handle his body?" Ye Li glanced at Mo Xiuyao and asked, "Should we return the remains to Great Chu?" In a few days, Great Chu would send envoys to negotiate with Prince Ding's Estate and take the young emperor Mo Suiyun back.

Feng Zhiyao quickly shook his head. "Wang Fei, this... by the time Great Chu's people arrive, Mo Jingli's body would have already... How about we just return his ashes to them?" Though he highly doubted whether Great Chu even wanted Mo Jingli's remains.

Ye Li frowned. Though she found Feng Zhiyao's attitude somewhat strange, his reasoning wasn't entirely unfounded. Seeing that Mo Xiuyao didn't object either, she nodded in agreement. Only then did Feng Zhiyao let out a sigh of relief, casting a peculiar glance at Mo Xiuyao. Mo Xiuyao lifted his gaze and gave him a faint smile. Feng Zhiyao immediately felt a chill run down his spine and hastily withdrew his neck.

Ye Li was in low spirits and retired to her room after sitting for a while. The others, however, still had to stay behind to deal with the remaining matters. Fortunately, after today, Prince Ding's Estate could finally enjoy a long period of peace, so everyone present remained energetic, with no signs of fatigue.

Mo Xiuyao sat in the main seat, discussing arrangements for the envoys from various countries with Xu Qingbai. In a couple of days, these Western Region envoys would need to prepare for their journeys home. Seeing them off was no small matter, and since tonight's banquet had been repeatedly disrupted, the farewell feast would have to be even grander to make up for it.

Feng Zhiyao sat to the side, seemingly deeply unsettled. He kept glancing at Mo Xiuyao, then at Mo Xiaobao, his strange expression drawing repeated looks from even Xu Qingbai. When Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingbai finished their discussion, Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow at Feng Zhiyao and said, "If you have something to say, say it quickly."

Feng Zhiyao shook his head vigorously. "I have nothing to say."

Mo Xiuyao snorted softly, clearly not buying it. "What did Mo Jingli say to you before he died?"

Feng Zhiyao shook his head again, muttering, "Nothing. I just guessed."

"What did you guess?"

"I didn't guess anything—I saw how much you hated Mo Jingli!" Feng Zhiyao blurted out. Prince Ding's methods of tormenting people had unknowingly reached new heights. No one even knew when he had turned Mo Jingli into a eunuch. And turning him into a eunuch wasn't enough—he even instructed his own son to slip him an aphrodisiac. Giving that kind of drug to a eunuch was downright despicable and insane.

Recalling Mo Jingli's agonizing state before death, Feng Zhiyao had every reason to believe that nine times out of ten, Mo Jingli had died from the unbearable frustration of unfulfilled desire. The remaining one-tenth chance was that he had been angered to death by Mo Xiuyao and Mo Xiaobao, that father-son duo.

Pitiful, for a once-mighty ruler to meet such a wretched end. Even worse, it seemed he wasn’t the only one who knew the details. If Mo Jingli had any lingering spirit in the afterlife, he might just be furious enough to resurrect himself.Seeing the look in Feng Zhiyao's eyes, Mo Xiuyao knew he had misunderstood. But he really couldn't explain to others that it wasn't him who instructed Mo Xiaobao to drug Mo Jingli—though he had dropped some hints in that direction, he never expected Mo Xiaobao to execute the idea so cleanly and with such astonishing effect. Even if he explained, probably no one would believe him. Mo Xiuyao thought regretfully.

"Mo Xiaobao." Watching his son trying to sneak away by the door, Mo Xiuyao curled his lips into a pleased smile. Mo Xiaobao immediately straightened up. "Father, I'm tired and want to go rest."

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Go ahead, be good. Starting tomorrow, you'll be grounded. When your third and fourth uncles get married, I'll ask your mother for half a day's parole for you." He even threw his son a look that said, "See how good your father is to you?"

"Father!" Mo Xiaobao exploded. "How can you do this?!" Mo Xiuyao smiled at him. "What did I do?" Mo Xiaobao puffed up angrily. "You clearly said if I won, the grounding would be canceled! I didn't use Prince Ding's shadow guards or the Qilin, I won, I won!" He stomped his feet furiously.

Mo Xiuyao rubbed his forehead, looking at him with amusement. "Didn't use them? Isn't Qin Lie a shadow guard?"

"He's my friend! He's not a shadow guard anymore, and he hasn't joined the Qilin yet! He's a free man!" Mo Xiaobao argued vehemently. Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?" Mo Xiaobao lifted his little chin. "Of course! If you don't believe me, ask Mo Hua—Qin Lie isn't a shadow guard!" Thankfully, this young master is smart enough to remove Qin Lie's name from the shadow guard roster beforehand. Mo Xiaobao congratulated himself inwardly. Having dared to make a bet with his father, how could he lose on such a trivial matter?

Mo Xiuyao's smile remained warm and kind. "Oh? If that's the case... then Shen Yang isn't a shadow guard either, and his medicine naturally doesn't count as shadow guard resources. So it wouldn't be a violation, right, son?"

Crack!

The lively Mo Xiaobao froze instantly. Mother... Mother said if he used forbidden medicine again, she'd punish him severely! If she found out he'd stolen Shen Yang's... whatever aphrodisiac pill again, forget about getting three months of grounding waived—he might get three more months added.

Father is a scoundrel! Waaah... Young Master Mo Xiaobao wept silently in his heart.

Mo Xiuyao remained blissfully unaware of his son's inner sorrow, his smile as gentle as a spring breeze... albeit a bitingly cold one!

"Son, was I wrong?" Mo Xiuyao asked kindly.

Mo Xiaobao gritted his teeth. "N-No! Father is right, Qin Lie is a shadow guard!"

Scheming! Scoundrel! Setting me up! Mo Xiaobao glared furiously.

Fool! Naive! You're still too green. Mo Xiuyao sipped his tea leisurely.

"So, this time, Father wins?" Mo Xiuyao asked with a smile.

"Father is right!" Mo Xiaobao said through clenched teeth.

Mo Xiuyao lovingly patted his son's little head. "Son, there's nothing wrong with mischief, but it's no good if adults catch you red-handed. Keep trying harder next time."

Mo Xiaobao gnawed on his cheek. "Father, didn't Grandfather and Uncle ever catch you when you were little?"

Mo Xiuyao sighed softly. "When Father was little, he never did anything bad."Mo Xiaobao rolled his eyes at him twice and stormed off in a huff. "Believing you would make this young master a complete fool." Watching his son dash out like the wind, Mo Xiuyao shook his head with a smile and sighed, "This prince truly didn’t deceive you. Since childhood, everyone has praised this prince for being clever and sensible."

Feng Zhiyao, who had been silently observing the father-son clash, remained wordless. Indeed, everyone had praised you since childhood. That’s because your son openly mocks, while you do it covertly—commonly known as being sly. So even now, apart from this young master, no one knows about all the misfortunes Mo Jingli suffered from your schemes back then. Poor Mo Jingli, this young master will surely light an incense stick for you later. Rest in peace on your own. At least... in the world after death, there are no creatures like Mo Xiuyao.