Mo Li

The future heir of Prince Li must be born to Lingyun. Most importantly, Qixia Princess shall never hold any title, including or above that of a secondary consort. She shall never bear Prince Li’s bloodline.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present—regardless of age or gender—was stunned. The gazes directed at Lei Tengfeng were filled with shock and displeasure. No one could believe that Lei Tengfeng would dare to propose such audacious conditions. After all, Prince Li had already taken a principal consort before marrying Lingyun Gongzhu, and Lei Tengfeng’s demands clearly implied that the noble-born principal consort of Prince Li from Great Chu must not bear his heir before Lingyun Gongzhu. Most crucially, having a royal heir with Western Liang blood was the last thing any member of the imperial family would desire.

"Absolutely impossible!" The Empress Dowager rejected the conditions outright without hesitation.

Lei Tengfeng raised an eyebrow and smiled coldly. "In that case, there’s nothing more to discuss. Farewell. As for today’s humiliation… Great Liang will remember it well!" With that, he turned and took Lingyun Gongzhu by the hand. "Let’s go."

Lingyun Gongzhu had assumed the marriage negotiations would continue, never expecting her elder brother to deliver such a sudden and pleasant surprise. Without another word, she glanced at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, who had been silently observing from the side, then quickly followed Lei Tengfeng out.

On the day Prince Li was to take a secondary consort, the bride’s cousin stormed out with her in tow.

Whether Prince Li and Qixia Princess’s affairs had spread throughout the capital remained unknown, but news of Lingyun Gongzhu abandoning Prince Li on their wedding day quickly circulated both inside and outside the capital.

Lei Tengfeng escorted Lingyun Gongzhu back to the embassy and, after confining the visibly delighted princess to her chambers under strict orders not to leave, he strode toward the innermost room of the compound. Kicking the door open, he entered a dimly lit chamber where a veiled woman in black reclined leisurely on a couch, reading. Seeing him enter, she slowly sat up and smiled. "You’re back. Was Lingyun’s wedding entertaining?"

Slap!

Lei Tengfeng stared at her for a long moment before suddenly striking her veiled face with a brutal backhand. "You wretch! I warned you not to act recklessly!"

The woman was thrown back onto the couch by the sudden violence. When she recovered, she glared up at him with gritted teeth. "Lei Tengfeng!"

"You wretch! What exactly are you trying to do? Do you truly think I won’t kill you?" His voice was icy, his dark eyes brimming with violence.

The woman froze briefly before bursting into laughter. "So you brought Lingyun back, didn’t you? Heh… You never agreed to the marriage alliance with Great Chu in the first place. Now that it’s fallen through, isn’t this exactly what you wanted? Why are you so angry now?"

"You fool!" Lei Tengfeng snarled. "Who do you think you are? The Eastern Chu capital is filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Did you really believe your petty schemes could deceive anyone? Get up! We’re leaving the capital immediately!"

"Leaving?" The woman hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

Lei Tengfeng sneered. "If you don’t wish to go, that’s fine. I’ll have someone escort you to Prince Ding’s Estate instead. Since you’ve been pining for Mo Xiuyao all this time, I’ll make sure to give you a proper explanation once we return to Western Liang!"No! The woman in black screamed as she stood up, grabbing Lei Tengfeng's arm. "I'll go with you!" No one understood that man Mo Xiuyao better than she did—if she truly fell into his hands, she would die without a trace. Lei Tengfeng disdainfully shook off her hand and walked away without looking back. Such a bold yet cowardly woman, never satisfied and endlessly greedy...

As expected, the wedding at Prince Li's Palace turned into a farcical spectacle. To make matters worse, not only had the bride fled before the ceremony could even begin, but soon after, Prince Li, Princess Li, and Consort Xian Zhao—the entire household of Prince Li's Palace—were summoned to the imperial palace by the emperor's decree.

With no bride, no groom, and no hosts left, the guests naturally couldn't linger to freeload any longer. Thus, after drinking their fill of tea but getting nothing to eat, the guests had no choice but to bid their farewells. Before long, the once-bustling Prince Li's Palace returned to silence, though the red silk decorations still hanging everywhere somehow seemed dimmer, as if drained of their former vibrancy.

Since the emperor had not summoned Prince Ding and his wife to the palace, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, who had abandoned the wedding midway like the other guests, also took their leave of Prince Li's Palace. However, not far from the palace gates, they unexpectedly encountered Xu Qingchen, whom they hadn't seen in a long time, looking utterly carefree. Xu Qingchen had always been elusive—even his own family couldn't see him whenever they wished. After Ye Li's marriage, she had only seen him once, on the day of her homecoming visit. Running into him now was quite a surprise. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the three of them moved to Chu Xiang Pavilion for a meal.

"What does His Highness think of today's events?" Xu Qingchen took a sip of fine wine from his cup and softly praised, "They say Chu Xiang Pavilion's delicacies and fine wines are unmatched in the capital—it truly lives up to its reputation."

Ye Li kept her head down as she ate, listening to their conversation. After the chaotic afternoon, she was genuinely hungry.

"Brother Xu is indeed well-informed," Mo Xiuyao remarked. Xu Qingchen hadn't asked what had happened but instead directly inquired about Mo Xiuyao's opinion, indicating he already knew exactly what had transpired at Prince Li's Palace. Xu Qingchen seemed to ignore his words, sighing softly as he gazed tenderly at Ye Li with a hint of melancholy. "A Li, why won't your husband call me 'eldest brother'?"

Ye Li nearly choked on her food, forcing herself to swallow before glancing at Mo Xiuyao, then back at Xu Qingchen, her lips twitching. Xu Qingchen was three years younger than Mo Xiuyao—there was no way Mo Xiuyao would call him that. Besides, even if Mo Xiuyao could bring himself to do so, he would then have to address Xu Qingze as "second brother" and even Xu Qingbai as "fourth brother." Mo Xiuyao handed Ye Li a bowl of soup, watching her take a sip before turning back to Xu Qingchen with a faint smile. "Brother Xu, you are merely A Li's cousin."

Xu Qingchen smiled. "I wouldn't mind if Your Highness called me 'eldest cousin.'"

A glint of sharpness flashed in Mo Xiuyao's eyes as the corners of his lips curled slightly. "Then, Brother Xu, you must recall... I once had the honor of receiving guidance from Mr. Qingyun in my studies. You are Mr. Qingyun's grandson, while I am his student. Moreover, my late grandmother shared the same surname as the Xu family's matriarch. Though we come from the same lineage, by age, we are two generations apart—yet by seniority, we are peers."Ye Li naturally understood that Xu Qingchen wasn’t actually trying to make things difficult for Mo Xiuyao—it was all in jest. Taking a handkerchief to dab the corners of her lips, she smiled faintly and said, "Elder Brother, when did you start caring so much about titles? If His Highness were to follow my way of addressing you, wouldn’t that make the capital’s most handsome man seem old?"

Xu Qingchen swept a glance at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, his gaze lingering on the way Mo Xiuyao had naturally handed her the soup earlier. A trace of satisfaction flickered in his eyes. Hearing Ye Li’s words, he feigned displeasure and shot her a look, sighing lightly. "Truly, once married, the elbow bends outward. Father and Second Uncle must regret agreeing to your marriage so soon. The only girl of the Xu family in this generation, just like that, you’ve become someone else’s." A faint blush rose on Ye Li’s delicate, fair cheeks. "Elder Brother, did you come here just to tease me?"

Xu Qingchen shook his head, his expression turning serious as he looked at Mo Xiuyao. After a moment of contemplation, Mo Xiuyao asked, "Brother Xu, do you think something is amiss about today’s events?"

"Just now… Lei Tengfeng left the capital with Lingyun Gongzhu," Xu Qingchen said. "They didn’t even bid farewell to His Majesty before departing."

Mo Xiuyao’s left hand unconsciously traced the warm jade at his waist as he frowned. "Today’s incident was undoubtedly orchestrated by someone behind the scenes, but… it couldn’t have been Lei Tengfeng. The alliance with Great Chu was decided long before he arrived here. There’s no reason for him to suddenly abandon it unless… something unexpected happened."

Ye Li furrowed her brows. "Does Lei Tengfeng wield enough authority to act so freely in such matters? A marriage alliance between two nations is no trivial affair, even if both sides harbor ill intentions. For Lei Tengfeng to break the agreement so abruptly—even if Mo Jingli was at fault first—Western Liang would now be seen as the unreasonable party." Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "It’s not that Lei Tengfeng has such authority, but his father, Zhennan Wang, does. The Western Liang Emperor is frail and sickly, with only a few princesses and a seven-year-old prince as heirs. Though Zhennan Wang holds no official title as regent, he effectively governs in the emperor’s stead."

"Then… was the marriage alliance with Great Chu the Western Liang Emperor’s idea or Zhennan Wang’s?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

Xu Qingchen shook his head. "Western Liang and Great Chu are long-standing enemies. And the Xu family’s intelligence network isn’t powerful enough to infiltrate the Western Liang palace." Mo Xiuyao nodded. "I’ll send someone to investigate."

Ye Li felt the two men were overcomplicating things. She looked up and asked, "Who let Qixia Princess into Prince Li’s Palace in the first place? No matter how familiar she is with Prince Li or how freely she comes and goes, she’s still a princess, isn’t she? For a princess to enter Prince Li’s Palace on his wedding day without the servants even thinking to inform their master—that in itself is highly irregular."

Xu Qingchen and Mo Xiuyao both paused, their expressions turning thoughtful as they exchanged a glance. Xu Qingchen suddenly chuckled softly, sighing. "It seems we’ve overlooked many things. Years of carefree wandering outside the capital have made us unaccustomed to its ways…" Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly. "Brother Xu is right. Secluding myself these past few years has allowed many changes in the capital to escape my notice. I’ll have someone look into this matter."Xu Qingchen nodded and said, "I naturally feel at ease leaving it to you, Your Highness. It just so happens that I'll be leaving the capital in a few days, so I likely won't be able to intervene in these matters anyway."

Ye Li was taken aback. "Elder Brother, you're leaving the capital? Returning to Yunzhou?"

Xu Qingchen shook his head with a smile. "No, I plan to visit Nanzhao."

"Nanzhao?" Ye Li was puzzled. "I remember Fifth Brother mentioning you'd just been there two years ago."

Mo Xiuyao, holding his wine cup, frowned and asked, "Do you think something will happen in Nanzhao?"

Xu Qingchen sighed, looking at Mo Xiuyao. "Surely you've noticed—trouble could break out anywhere now. Once the Ding Royal Palace completely declines, all the forces it has suppressed over the past century will seize the opportunity to invade and carve up Chu. Whether it's Nanzhao, Western Liang, Northern Rong, or even the island nations overseas—who isn't salivating over Chu, the most beautiful and fertile land on this continent? Yet those in power only see the threat of the Ding Royal Palace. On one hand, they scheme to suppress it, while on the other, fearing the rise of a second Ding Royal Palace, they refuse to nurture new military talents. Have they never considered what will happen to Chu when the Ding Royal Palace is gone and there's no one capable of replacing them? Or does the one sitting on the dragon throne truly believe his skill at political maneuvering will make him invincible on the battlefield as well?"

"Elder Brother, do you think... Nanzhao will strike first?" Ye Li asked. Though the people of Nanzhao were fierce, they couldn't compare to the battle-hardened warriors of Northern Rong or Western Liang. Moreover, after Mo Xiuyao's sweeping campaign through the Southern Border, the current Nanzhao might not even be capable of waging war against Chu.

Xu Qingchen replied, "Under normal circumstances, no. But now... I fear our esteemed ruler might provoke Nanzhao first."

"What?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow, glancing at Mo Xiuyao. From his calm eyes, she saw agreement. "Is that man... insane? With ongoing conflicts against Northern Rong and Western Liang, does he really want to add Nanzhao to the mix? Isn't he afraid the three nations might unite against us? At that point, even if Mo Lanyun and Mo Liufang were resurrected, Chu would still be in dire straits—let alone now, when we have no renowned generals to speak of."

Xu Qingchen sighed. "When our late emperor ascended the throne, though young, the regent prince took great care in educating him. But... our current emperor likely didn't receive the same guidance—it seems he was raised by the Empress Dowager. The late emperor passed away at only forty, probably believing he had another twenty or thirty years left and thus never intended to groom a successor so soon to avoid complications. Who could have predicted his sudden demise? And while the Empress Dowager is hailed as a remarkable woman, she was ultimately a figure of the inner court. What she could teach the emperor were schemes and political machinations. Of course, it was precisely her methods that allowed Mo Jingqi to secure the throne after his father's death. But while cunning can win an empire, it cannot govern one. Though Mo Jingqi aspires to be a sage ruler, deep down he knows his ability to govern may not even match his father's. Thus, he guards his throne all the more jealously, ruthlessly eliminating anyone who might threaten it."

Ye Li frowned. "But Elder Brother, even if you go, what can you do? What if you encounter danger?"Looking at the two worried men before her, Ye Li couldn't help but sigh. This world was just like this—some people exhausted themselves worrying about the nation and its people, while others schemed in the shadows with ulterior motives. Some suffered in clear awareness, while others reveled in ignorant bliss.

Xu Qingchen smiled and said, "I have some acquaintance with the Crown Princess of Nanzhao. I'm just going to visit her."

"Crown Princess?" Ye Li marveled at Xu Qingchen's extensive connections.

Mo Xiuyao raised his cup to him and said, "Thank you."

Xu Qingchen raised his cup in return and replied calmly, "No need. This is my father's intention, not for the sake of the Ding Royal Palace. The Xu family will not betray Great Chu, but neither are we saviors capable of reversing fate. We can only do what we can."

After seeing Xu Qingchen off, Ye Li realized he had come specifically to bid them farewell. Even Mo Xiuyao had once praised her eldest uncle as possibly one of the wisest men in the world. Likely, from the moment news of Lingyun Gongzhu's failed marriage alliance spread, her uncle had foreseen the future trajectory of Great Chu. And before anyone else—even the one in the palace—could react, he had already sent her eldest cousin to the Southern Border. If anything were to happen to Great Chu in the future, the Xu family wouldn't be able to escape, would they?

Mo Xiuyao looked at her gently and said softly, "If you're referring to going into seclusion, then that likely isn't possible. Given the Xu family's integrity, they would not pledge loyalty to the emperor, but they would undoubtedly sacrifice themselves for Great Chu. A Li, do you know why the Xu family, as former officials of the previous dynasty, has remained prestigious in Great Chu for a century without decline?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow, and Mo Xiuyao continued, "In the final years of the previous dynasty, the world was in chaos. In truth... the last emperor of that dynasty was neither a tyrant nor a fool. He had almost no flaws—he simply wasn't suited to be an emperor. The Xu ancestors steadfastly supported the last emperor in times of crisis. Though they were a scholarly family, at least seven members of the Xu family died on the battlefield. In the end, when our ancestor Mo Lanyun led troops to besiege the capital, the then-head of the Xu family, despite his frail scholarly physique, personally took to the city walls to oversee the defense. The army fought for seven days and nights without breaking through. The eldest son of the founding emperor, greedy for military glory, recklessly charged forward and died in the chaos of battle. Enraged, the founding emperor ordered his soldiers to capture commoners near the capital and execute five thousand of them daily outside the city walls, vowing that if the last emperor did not surrender, the entire city would be slaughtered upon its fall. The next day, the head of the Xu family personally killed the last emperor and opened the city gates to surrender, on the sole condition that no further harm would come to the capital's people or those nearby. On the day the Chu army entered the city, the Xu family head left a letter for our ancestor and then took his own life. That same day, Lady Xu led all seventy-three members of the Xu household in committing suicide for their country. Only a thirteen-year-old youngest son of the Xu family, who was far away in Yunzhou at the time, survived. He later became the young prime minister of Great Chu, Xu Yanli."

Ye Li was stunned by this secret history she had never heard before, an indescribable sorrow lodged in her heart. She regretted and lamented the reckless words she had once spoken to her uncle. She might not understand the pride of scholars, but as a soldier, she deeply comprehended the unyielding spirit and loyalty of warriors. She couldn't bear to imagine the disappointment and sorrow her uncle must have felt when she asked such a question. It was nothing short of blasphemy and the greatest insult to the Xu ancestors and those seventy-three who had died for their country.

"Then... why would..." Ye Li lowered her gaze and asked.Mo Xiuyao said, "You want to ask why it's different from the historical records? There isn't much difference. Xu Yanli did indeed devote himself to assisting the emperor of Great Chu, and the third emperor of Great Chu was even personally tutored by him. After the founding of the dynasty, Emperor Taizu also bestowed posthumous titles and enviable noble ranks upon all the deceased members of the Xu family." Seeing Ye Li's surprised expression, Mo Xiuyao smiled calmly and said, "Emperor Taizu had shed too much blood in his conquests and needed a reputation for benevolence to secure his rule."

"What letter did the Xu family's ancestor leave for Prince Ding?" Ye Li asked hesitantly. Of course, things couldn't be as simple as Mo Xiuyao made them sound. Emperor Taizu would never have trusted a prime minister whose entire family had died in loyal service to the previous dynasty. Mo Xiuyao shook his head with a smile. "That is no longer known. It seems our ancestor ultimately gave the letter to Emperor Taizu. And that letter clearly saved Xu Yanli's life. Later... the story of how the entire Xu family died as martyrs for the capital's citizens somehow spread, and coupled with the Xu family's centuries-old prestige as a renowned noble house, their reputation became unparalleled for a time. Although the historical records from Emperor Taizu's founding era are often vague and obscured due to taboos, many things gradually took root in the hearts of the people. Even if many events have faded from memory, many still inherited certain sentiments from their elders—such as respect for the Xu family."

Ye Li finally began to understand why the Xu family had never intermarried with the royal family through the generations. Even if they truly bore no hatred, they could not deny that the Xu family had once been annihilated because of the Great Chu imperial family. This also explained why, despite the Xu family's consistent display of indifference to fame and power, the royal family never ceased its efforts to suppress them. It was likely that what Mo Lanyun had done back then was far more than the understated actions Mo Xiuyao had described.

Ye Li rubbed her temples in frustration, almost despairingly asking, "Will war definitely happen?"

"Sooner or later," Mo Xiuyao sighed softly. "Great Chu has suppressed the other nations for too long. Almost everyone is eagerly awaiting its decline. And we... seem to have grown accustomed to believing we are the strongest. In truth, had it not been for that defeat seven years ago, even I might have thought the same. But when I dragged my broken body away from the battlefield, carrying my elder brother's ashes and leading the remnants of the Mo Family Army, which had lost more than half its elite, I realized how laughable my former pride had been. Whether it's Western Liang or Northern Rong, they may not truly surpass Great Chu, but they are not necessarily far behind either. The Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry, once invincible across the land, proved this with the bones of their hundred thousand fallen. A Li... it was the Ding Royal Palace that ruined Great Chu..." After a long silence, Mo Xiuyao finally murmured these words. Had the Ding Royal Palace not always appeared so overwhelmingly powerful, Great Chu might have produced more renowned generals and elite soldiers. Had the Mo Family Army not intimidated the borders for over a century, Great Chu might have endured longer in times of crisis.Ye Li remained silent, unsure of who was right or wrong. The Ding Royal Palace had loyally guarded the Great Chu for over a century—how many could claim such dedication across generations? Were they wrong? Certainly not. Then were those they protected at fault? No, for they knew nothing of it. After a long pause, Ye Li murmured softly, "You weren't wrong. The fault lies in human nature. Not every emperor possesses the magnanimity and courage to embrace all, nor the capability and bearing to unite the realm. When a ruler no longer sees his ministers as trusted aides but as threats, their excellence and achievements become challenges and intimidation in his eyes."

Hearing her words, Mo Xiuyao gazed at Ye Li in a daze for a long moment before smiling faintly. "My apologies, A Li. Did I frighten you with such talk?"

Ye Li gave him a composed glance—was she so easily shaken? Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "There's no use dwelling on this now. A Li, why not guess how the matter at Prince Li's Palace will be resolved?"

Ye Li shrugged boredly and said, "What else can be done? The Emperor, in his fury, kills Qixia Princess and demotes Prince Li? Or the Emperor is persuaded by the old princes, imprisons Qixia Princess, and lightly punishes Prince Ding. Or perhaps... Qixia Princess changes her identity and marries Prince Li." Ye Li always felt that the Empress Dowager, as a mother, accepted Qixia Princess too quickly. Her eldest son's future consort had an affair with her second son, yet she merely scolded lightly before planning to marry her into the family. It seemed she hadn’t considered the Emperor’s possible reaction at all. If this were any ordinary mother of this era, she would likely have first eliminated the woman who could cause strife between her sons.

"A Li, which do you think is more likely?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

Ye Li pondered, then said, "The third one." She frowned. "So, was today’s incident someone else’s scheme, or were they scheming against others? It seems... we need to reassess Mo Jingli’s intelligence—or perhaps the intelligence of those behind him."

"A Li, stay away from Mo Jingli from now on," Mo Xiuyao reminded her. Ye Li nodded absentmindedly, still mulling over the earlier question. "What use is the Princess of Nanzhao to Mo Jingli?"

Mo Xiuyao seemed slightly surprised and glanced at her before smiling faintly. "She’s the younger sister of the Crown Princess of Southern Zhao—far more useful than Lingyun Gongzhu."

Ye Li’s frown deepened. "If Mo Jingli really had that kind of intelligence, would I be so much worse than Ye Ying?"

Mo Xiuyao appeared even more amused. "Believe me, if Mo Jingli had any brains, he’d rather marry Lingyun Gongzhu than you."

Ye Li’s face darkened. Was she really that undesirable?

"However... their clever plans might backfire. Mo Jingqi... never plays by the rules. Though this Emperor isn’t as brilliant as he thinks, his occasional unpredictable moves aren’t something ordinary people can handle."

By the time they returned to the manor, news had already spread from the palace—Qixia Princess had passed away from illness. Of course, this news would take some time to be officially announced. After all, even though the nobility already knew the truth, they still had to maintain appearances for the common folk. If Qixia Princess had died suddenly on the same day Prince Li’s Palace was embroiled in scandal, even a fool could connect the dots and spin wild theories. As for Prince Li’s marriage and Lingyun Gongzhu? Since the palace made no mention of it, everyone was happy to pretend it never happened—that the Emperor had never arranged a marriage, and they had never sent gifts to Prince Li’s Palace. They could just consider it an early gift for when Prince Li married Qixia Princess later.

In the palace, within an elegantly decorated but cold and desolate hall, Mo Jingqi was venting his fury unchecked. The palace servants had long fled in terror, and those who couldn’t escape cowered in corners, trembling. Precious antiques and paintings lay shattered or torn on the floor, while tables, stools, and display stands were kicked askew. Consort Liu sat coldly on a carved divan nearby, her expression indifferent as she watched the man’s tantrum. A seven- or eight-year-old girl in lavish attire, her eyes wide with fear, was clutched in her arms, too terrified to even cry.Consort Liu raised a hand to cover the young girl's eyes as she gazed at the frenzied man in the hall. "Has Your Majesty had enough of this commotion?"

Mo Jingqi froze, gradually coming to a stop before turning to look at Consort Liu's icy, snow-like countenance. A flash of malice crossed his shadowed eyes.

"Attendants, take the princess away," Consort Liu commanded. The palace maids kneeling in the corners, as if granted a reprieve, scrambled to their feet and took the petrified, trembling girl from Consort Liu's hands before hastily exiting.

"My beloved consort, don't you have anything to say?" Mo Jingqi's voice lacked its usual commanding presence from court, instead dripping with venom and resentment.

Consort Liu lifted her eyes to meet his. "What does Your Majesty wish this humble consort to say?"

"You're laughing at me in your heart too, aren't you?" Mo Jingqi pinched Consort Liu's delicate chin with one hand, whispering into her ear. His cold breath felt like a serpent's hiss. "I know—you're just like them! No... you look down on me even more than they do, don't you? Seeing everyone oppose me must bring you great joy, isn't that right?"

"If Your Majesty says so, then it must be so," Consort Liu replied impassively.

Slap!

Mo Jingqi backhanded her across the face, leaving red marks on her jade-like skin. Consort Liu raised her head, her gaze steady as she met his eyes. Mo Jingqi faltered.

"Shang'er..." Staring blankly at the marks on her face, he reached out with a pitying hand. "Shang'er... it was my fault. I shouldn't have hit you... Does it hurt? Why won't you listen to me? Why must you always oppose me? Why must you meddle in everything? Why must you threaten me? I hate being threatened!" The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, quickly forgetting his earlier remorse as he seized Consort Liu's shoulders and shook her violently.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! You wrong Her Ladyship!" A young palace maid suddenly rushed out from a side chamber, crying out desperately, "Your Majesty, please let go of Her Ladyship—this truly has nothing to do with her!"

Seeing that Mo Jingqi paid her no heed, the maid glanced around and spotted an antique vase that had miraculously survived the destruction. Gritting her teeth, she picked it up, intending to smash it against Mo Jingqi's back.

Consort Liu's expression flickered. Swiftly, she plucked a beaded hairpin from her head and hurled it at the maid.

Crash!

The vase shattered loudly against the floor.

The frenzied Mo Jingqi jolted as if awakened from a trance. The maid, now pale with terror, collapsed to her knees. In that moment of desperation, her mind had gone blank—only now did she realize the consequences had she actually struck the emperor.

Mo Jingqi, now visibly calmer, glanced at the trembling maid behind him before slowly releasing Consort Liu and rising to his feet.

The moment he stepped back, Consort Liu straightened, her posture as composed and indifferent as ever. Were it not for the red marks on her face, one might have thought nothing had happened.

"Shang'er, rest for now. I'll have someone come later to replace your belongings," Mo Jingqi muttered, barely sparing her a glance before kicking aside the kneeling maid and storming out.

Consort Liu watched his retreating figure, her cold eyes glinting with resentment and mockery.