Mo Li

"Your Highness?" The disordered palace was eerily quiet. After a long silence, the young palace maid kneeling on the ground finally dared to call out cautiously.

Consort Liu's face had regained its usual calm, as if nothing had happened. She spoke indifferently, "Rise. What happened today at Prince Li's Palace?" Mo Jingqi wouldn’t lose his temper without reason. Aside from Prince Li taking a secondary wife, there was no major event today. Although Prince Ding’s recent return after his marriage had made him somewhat restless, it wasn’t enough to provoke such an outburst. So, something unexpected must have occurred.

The young maid thanked her and stood up, stepping closer to whisper, "The Empress Dowager rushed to Prince Li's Palace earlier. Then, His Majesty summoned Prince Li, Princess Li, and Consort Xian Zhao into the palace. After Prince Li left, the Emperor came straight to see you. There was no time for this servant to report these events."

Consort Liu frowned. "Summoned Prince Li to the palace? What about his wedding?"

The maid replied, "That’s precisely what this servant was about to report. The wedding has been canceled. It’s said that Zhennan Wang Shizi of Western Liang stormed out in anger, taking the Western Liang princess with him. It seems something happened… in the women’s resting quarters at Prince Li's Palace…"

Consort Liu waved her hand dismissively. "Send word to my mother, asking her to come to the palace as soon as possible. No matter how favored I am, news from outside the palace always reaches me too slowly."

"This servant obeys. Your Highness… what about His Majesty…?"

A cold smile curved Consort Liu’s delicate lips. "It’s nothing. He probably just took his frustration out on me after clashing with the Empress Dowager. I’ll find a way to soothe his temper later."

The maid smiled faintly. "Your Highness understands His Majesty best. However… my lord sent word, urging Your Highness to… be cautious of the Empress Dowager. After all… she was the woman who emerged victorious from the harem of noble consorts during the late Emperor’s reign. Not only did she bear two sons, but she also defeated all those women and princes to place her own son on the throne. The Empress Dowager is by no means a woman to be taken lightly."

Consort Liu replied coolly, "I know. The Empress Dowager is indeed formidable, but… I am no pushover either! She is clever and powerful, but her greatest mistake is never truly understanding what her son is thinking."

"Does she really believe Mo Jingqi is the only one who can’t endure her desire to control everything? Any man with ambition would find it unbearable—some simply refuse to endure it, while others have no choice but to submit."

Ding Royal Palace

Deep within the secluded Martial Arts Training Ground of Ding Royal Palace, Ye Li’s expression was uncharacteristically dark as she glared at Qingluan and A Jin, who flitted around effortlessly using their Light Body Skill. Qing Shuang, who was also unskilled in the technique, hid nearby, stifling laughter. Even Mo Xiuyao, seated to the side, couldn’t suppress the faint upward curve of his lips.

Ye Li truly couldn’t understand. With her body’s coordination, balance, and all-around physical aptitude—not to mention what Mo Xiuyao had described as her natural talent for martial arts—why couldn’t she master the Light Body Skill? She could navigate plum blossom stakes or any other obstacle with ease, as if walking on flat ground. Even inner energy, something that would seem utterly mystical to a modern person, she had grasped. So why couldn’t she fly?

To make matters worse, Mo Xiuyao had specially sought out a Light Body Skill technique supposedly suited for women. Even Qing Shuang had managed to learn it decently by now. But Ye Li? She just… couldn’t feel it!Actually, in real combat, Ye Li felt that whether one had Light Body Skill or not didn't make much difference. After all, she could scale walls over ten feet high effortlessly even without it, and she didn’t believe those with superior Light Body Skill could perform stealth operations any better than her. In close-quarters combat, Light Body Skill was practically useless. But... the ability to leap and soar freely was the dream of every Chinese with a martial arts fantasy, wasn’t it? Since it truly existed, and following the principle that one could never have too many skills, why shouldn’t she learn it?

"A Li, what are you thinking?" Seeing Ye Li unusually frustrated, Mo Xiuyao was gracious enough not to laugh at her, though the gleam in his eyes betrayed that he was merely holding back his amusement.

Ye Li shot a resentful glance at the three figures darting around the Martial Arts Training Ground and said, "I probably don’t have the talent for Light Body Skill."

"Learning Light Body Skill doesn’t require much talent. Only exceptional Light Body Skill does, and that isn’t something a manual can determine—like Han Mingxi, the Wind and Moon noble. His martial arts are average, his inner energy mediocre, and if not for his Light Body Skill, which surpasses even many top-tier masters, he would have died countless times."

"This isn’t scientific!" Ye Li felt her temples throbbing. This completely defied the limits of the human body. How could it not require talent or extremely high inner energy? Most importantly... humans simply can’t fly!

"What do you think about when you perform Light Body Skill?" Mo Xiuyao asked patiently.

Ye Li was somewhat disheartened but still carefully explained her thoughts to him. After listening, Mo Xiuyao was both amused and exasperated. "A Li, if you keep thinking like this, you’ll never master Light Body Skill. You’re telling yourself humans can’t fly while trying to perform it?" Of course, Ye Li knew this was almost like self-sabotage. Ordinary people of this era wouldn’t have such troubles. But Ye Li was different. Even though she had once been an elite warrior, even though people could fly in airplanes or venture into space in her time, there was still an unshakable belief ingrained in them: humans cannot fly by their own power. So, Ye Li always subconsciously sought something to push off from. The moment she couldn’t find that support and her body reached what her mind deemed the human limit, her instincts would trigger self-preservation, causing her to fall.

"A Li, Light Body Skill doesn’t let you fly out of thin air. You still need leverage—just far less and much subtler than what an untrained person would require. It could be a treetop or some other small object, as long as you control it well enough."

Ye Li stared at him expressionlessly. Mo Xiuyao smiled helplessly, then with a light tap on his wheelchair’s armrest, his entire body suddenly soared toward the Martial Arts Training Ground. After a brief moment of surprise, Ye Li fixed her gaze on him. She watched as his hand tapped swiftly on a wooden stake in the training ground, then shifted to another spot. Next, he touched a treetop at the edge, then the netting Ye Li had set up, before finally landing back in his wheelchair. "See?" Mo Xiuyao asked with a smile, handing her a pale yellow flower he had plucked from the treetop.This is completely unscientific! Ye Li gritted her teeth, glaring fiercely at Mo Xiuyao. Was this someone who had difficulty walking? Really? In fact, she was probably the one who couldn’t walk properly, wasn’t she?

Hmm? Mo Xiuyao looked at her in confusion.

I get it. Ye Li took the flower and twirled it in her hand. I need to think about it.

Mo Xiuyao smiled. I think A Li overthinks things. Or perhaps you could imagine the sensation of falling from a hundred-zhang cliff. No support, nothing to hold onto—naturally, there’s no way to exert force. Ye Li silently stared at him. She had indeed jumped from a hundred—no, several hundred—feet in the sky before. If that’s all it takes… every paratrooper would become a master of Light Body Skill. I see. I’ll give it a try.

Ye Li’s idea of “trying” involved having A Jin carry her up a twenty-meter-high wooden pole at the edge of the Martial Arts Training Ground and then… jumping down!

The first time, she suddenly fell from about ten meters up. Fortunately, she was caught by a tree branch before landing in the sandpit beside the field.

The second time, she traversed nearly half the training ground horizontally but failed to find another point to exert force in time, falling from five meters high. Her body’s self-protection reflexes worked well—only a few scratches.

The third time, she lost control and crashed into a wooden stake on the training ground, leaving her in so much pain she couldn’t recover for a while.

The fourth time…

The fifth time…

Mo Xiuyao sat quietly at the edge of the field, watching the slender figure jump, fly, and fall again and again. Then she would get up, check herself, and jump again, only to fall once more. Mo Xiuyao didn’t stop her. As he watched her fail repeatedly and then try again and again, a fierce and unfamiliar emotion quietly churned in his usually calm eyes for the first time. His deep gaze was fixed solely on that slender figure, rising and falling without end.

Mo Xiuyao, you’re actually abusing a woman?! Feng Zhiyao’s voice abruptly broke the silence of the training ground. The shadow guards lurking in the shadows twitched their lips, nearly falling from their hidden positions.

Feng Zhiyao strolled over, fan in hand, glancing between Ye Li in the training ground and the silent Mo Xiuyao sitting at the side. He clicked his tongue and sighed. A Yao, that’s your wife, not your enemy. Who would’ve thought after all these years, you’ve become even worse at cherishing beauty? Mo Xiuyao lifted his head, giving him a faint glance but saying nothing. Watching Ye Li fall repeatedly didn’t put him in a good mood. Having received no response, Feng Zhiyao rubbed his nose and silently stepped aside. After watching for a while, he asked in confusion, What is sister-in-law doing?

Light Body Skill, Mo Xiuyao replied.

Feng Zhiyao’s expression twisted, nearly poking his chin with his fan. Practicing Light Body Skill? This… isn’t she afraid of killing herself? They had all trained in martial arts since childhood. Feng Zhiyao himself was somewhat self-taught, never formally instructed by a master. But he had never seen such a training method before. Are women these days even more reckless than men? The moment the words left his mouth, he felt a cold glare pierce through him. Feng Zhiyao gave an apologetic smile to the displeased Mo Xiuyao and stepped aside to watch Ye Li’s practice together.Ye Li had lost count of how many times she'd fallen during the training. By the time she finally managed to land smoothly on the ground, her entire body ached as if she'd been thoroughly beaten. Yet her heart felt immensely relieved—it was the first time since arriving in this world that she'd experienced such profound satisfaction and joy.

Clap clap clap—Feng Zhiyao applauded from the sidelines, raising an impressed eyebrow at Ye Li. Qingluan and Qingshuang immediately rushed over. Qingshuang's bright eyes were already red and swollen from crying, and without caring about the audience, she threw herself at Ye Li, wailing "Miss! Miss!" between sobs. Glancing at her own disheveled state, Ye Li chuckled and patted the little maid to stand properly before walking toward Mo Xiuyao. "Young Master Feng, we meet again."

Feng Zhiyao sighed, "Princess, today you've truly broadened my horizons."

Ye Li replied helplessly, "Others learn it so easily, yet for me, it's been exceptionally difficult. Since I want to master it, I naturally have to put in more effort."

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly, "A Li, let's stop here for today. You can go back to freshen up and rest, then have a physician check on you. Feng San and I will be in the study."

Ye Li nodded with a smile, "It's nothing serious—just a bit sore from the falls. I'll take my leave now. Young Master Feng, farewell."

Watching Ye Li depart with Qingluan and Qingshuang, Feng Zhiyao turned and asked, "Xiu Yao, what exactly are you doing? Surely the shadow guards and the Black Cloud Cavalry are more than capable of protecting the mistress of Ding Royal Palace without her needing to learn self-defense personally?"

"Young Master Feng, it was the Princess herself who insisted on learning. His Highness merely agreed to teach her," A Jin interjected. He had never seen anyone more stubborn or persistent than the Princess. If the Prince hadn't consented to teach her Light Body Skill, he truly believed she might have broken her neck from practicing in secret.

"Having the ability to protect oneself is far more reassuring than relying on others," Mo Xiuyao said calmly. "No protection in this world is flawless—not even the shadow guards of Ding Royal Palace can eliminate all dangers. The more skills one possesses, the safer one will be in the future."

Feng Zhiyao shook his head and sighed, "With such perseverance and courage, few men could compare. I'm genuinely curious—how did the Ye family raise a daughter like this? Even the Xu family... even the Xu family wouldn't likely produce such a woman. The Xu women may be brilliantly talented or exceptionally clever, but someone like Ye Li is truly unprecedented."

Mo Xiuyao turned his wheelchair toward the study. "I didn't summon you here to discuss A Li."

Feng Zhiyao paused, then smirked at the retreating figure. "Xiu Yao, could it be... you're jealous?"

Mo Xiuyao's study had long been relocated to the newlywed courtyard. This compound, specially prepared for Prince Ding and his Princess, was the largest in the entire Ding Royal Palace, even boasting an independent library tower. After moving in, the couple had swiftly reorganized the space—the second floor of the two-story library tower housed the book collection, while the first floor was divided into two sections: one side served as Ye Li's study, the other as Mo Xiuyao's.

Thus, when the two men entered the study and saw Ye Li—already changed into fresh clothes—seated behind the desk with a book in hand, Mo Xiuyao wasn't surprised. He simply asked, "A Li, why aren't you resting longer?"Ye Li raised the book in her hand and said, "It's not good to lie down and rest immediately after practicing martial arts. I'll read for a while. Do you need me to leave?"

Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Since you're not tired yet, come over and listen together."

Feng Zhiyao glanced around the study's furnishings and raised an eyebrow in surprise at Mo Xiuyao's words but didn't comment. After a moment's thought, Ye Li also walked over with her book and sat down. Feng Zhiyao curiously peeked at it. "Hmm? The princess consort is reading a book?" The book in Ye Li's hand was The Art of War: Unconventional Strategies .

Ye Li looked down at the book and replied, "Just passing the time when I'm free."

"Reading military texts to pass the time—what a unique hobby," Feng Zhiyao thought to himself, though his face showed keen interest. "How do you find it?"

"Not bad," Ye Li answered.

Feng Zhiyao wasn't quite sure what she meant by "not bad" and quickly glanced at Mo Xiuyao. Unfazed, Mo Xiuyao smiled and asked, "A Li, what do you find 'not bad' about it?"

Ye Li hesitated slightly before answering, "The strategic aspects are well-written, but the tactics... Perhaps it's the difference between modern and ancient warfare. Many of the tactics described here seem completely unreasonable, even fanciful. Not that tactics can't be imaginative—in fact, the best commanders often have wildly creative ideas. But this book... Honestly, I think it's more suitable as fiction. The author definitely never set foot on a battlefield," she mused silently.

"Strategy? Tactics?" Feng Zhiyao raised an eyebrow.

Feeling slightly annoyed but keeping her expression calm, Ye Li glanced at Mo Xiuyao and explained, "Strategy refers to the overall plan and approach to war."

Mo Xiuyao gave Feng Zhiyao a look and added coolly, "Tactics are the specific methods, deployments, and schemes used to achieve strategic goals and defeat the enemy. Understood?"

Feng Zhiyao stared dejectedly at the composed couple before him. Were they mocking his lack of knowledge?

"A Li, what do you think of the tactics?" Mo Xiuyao ignored Feng Zhiyao's expression and asked Ye Li.

She shrugged. "Compared to The Emperor's Military Classics , this feels more like a fantasy novel."

"Ahhh! You've even read The Emperor's Military Classics ?!" Feng Zhiyao shrieked.

Ye Li looked at him strangely. "My uncles and grandfather have copies at home. What's so odd about reading it? My eldest uncle taught me." She wasn't lying—her eldest uncle had indeed instructed her in military strategy. Though they hadn't covered the entire Emperor's Military Classics in less than a month, the explanation conveniently accounted for her extensive military knowledge. That text was one of the best military treatises she'd encountered in this world.

Feng Zhiyao silently lamented. "Why were you born into the Ye and Xu families? If you'd been born into the Murong family, given how General Murong raises his daughters, our dynasty might have gained a female general!"

The Emperor's Military Classics wasn't just a single book. It spanned twenty-nine volumes, documenting the campaigns of seventeen renowned generals from both sides during the founding emperor's early reign. It even included annotations by Prince Ding, Mo Lanyun, making it essential reading for military officers of Great Chu.There are many military strategy books in the study at the front courtyard. A Li can go there to take them if she likes, Mo Xiuyao said. This courtyard was never meant for official business, so most of the books in the study lean toward poetry, classics, or miscellaneous subjects. There are a few military texts, but none of them are particularly outstanding.

Upon hearing this, Ye Li's eyes lit up. While the study had many books, after excluding the poetry, odes, and biographies of famous figures that didn’t interest her, what remained were mostly historical, geographical, and travel writings. She had no interest in the so-called "secrets of such-and-such dynasty" or "hidden histories," having already browsed through most historical texts before her marriage. That left her with only geographical and travel accounts to read, but descriptions of scenic spots and local customs she could only imagine but never experience firsthand were frustrating.

This couple… I surrender to you! Feng Zhiyao inwardly rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Once they returned to the main topic, Feng Zhiyao became much more serious and composed. He looked at Mo Xiuyao apologetically and said, "Xiu Yao, I’m sorry. It seems I’ve overlooked quite a few things these past few years."

Mo Xiuyao glanced up at him. "Oh? Any news from Prince Li's Palace?"

Feng Zhiyao nodded. "Lingyun Gongzhu thought she was clever, scheming against Mo Jingli, but she probably doesn’t realize she was the one being played instead."

"How so?"

"According to reports from Prince Li's Palace, the incense in Qixia Princess’s resting chamber was placed there by Lingyun Gongzhu’s people, and Qixia Princess herself was also brought in by Lingyun Gongzhu’s subordinates. However… the maid who was the first to rush into Qixia Princess’s chamber that day, as mentioned by the Princess Consort, was neither Qixia Princess’s nor Lingyun Gongzhu’s person. Instead… she was a young maid brought out of the palace by Consort Xian Zhao." Feng Zhiyao’s expression turned grave.

Ye Li frowned. "That maid…"

Feng Zhiyao continued, "That very afternoon, the maid was secretly executed. I’ve had people watching Prince Li's Palace and Zhaoyang Princess Manor closely. When Qixia Princess was taken back, no maid accompanied her. It wasn’t until midnight that someone carried a maid’s corpse out through the back gate and dumped it in a mass grave outside the city. The maid’s face had been disfigured before death, and there was nothing on her body to identify her."

"Then how do you know she was Consort Xian Zhao’s person?" Ye Li asked curiously.

Feng Zhiyao smirked proudly. "The coroner found traces of jasmine-scented hair oil in the maid’s fingernails and hair. This particular hair oil is said to be a special blend from the top perfumery in the capital. It’s extremely expensive—a tiny box costs over ten taels of silver. Over the past three months, only five boxes of this scented oil have been sold in the entire capital. Two of them were purchased by Consort Xian Zhao’s people. So, I suspect that maid was one of Consort Xian Zhao’s personal hairdressers. Also, yesterday morning, Consort Xian Zhao appeared with a new hairstyle. According to an expert in grooming I sent to observe, it was definitely not styled by the same person who used to do her hair."

Ye Li nodded in admiration. "So, the situation is: Lingyun Gongzhu didn’t want to marry Prince Li, so she schemed to help Qixia Princess enter Prince Li's Palace, allowing herself to openly break off the engagement? Meanwhile, Consort Xian Zhao also wasn’t satisfied with Lingyun Gongzhu as a daughter-in-law, so she turned the tables to ensure Qixia Princess could take her place? But… that doesn’t make sense."

"What doesn’t make sense?" Feng Zhiyao asked, puzzled.Ye Li said, "Unless Lei Tengfeng was also involved in this matter, if he hadn't so forcefully taken Lingyun Gongzhu away at that time, no matter how much she protested, she would have eventually had to obediently go through with the marriage, right? In that case, not only would her plan have failed, but she would have also gained another opponent in Prince Li's Palace. Or was she just trying to get leverage over Prince Li and Qixia Princess by catching them in a compromising position? What if Prince Li and Qixia Princess would rather fight to the death and report her scheme to the Emperor? Even if she is a princess of Western Liang, she probably wouldn't be able to escape unscathed."

A Li wondered, "Why did Teng Feng leave in such a hurry?" Mo Xiuyao asked softly.

Ye Li thought for a moment and said, "Did Lei Tengfeng discover that Lingyun Gongzhu was being set up?"

Feng Zhiyao nodded and said, "If Princess Lingyun were still in the capital, the Emperor would have no choice but to deal with her once this matter was uncovered. But now that she's gone, if the Emperor doesn’t want to damage relations between the two nations, he can only pretend nothing happened. It’s not like he can send troops to attack Western Liang over this, right? Still, with this mess, Lei Tengfeng’s trip to Da Chu has been wasted. That foolish woman, Princess Lingyun, ruined what should have been a smooth marriage alliance. Lei Tengfeng must be fuming."

Ye Li sighed and turned to Mo Xiuyao, asking, "Should I be glad I wasn’t worth the effort for him to scheme against me so elaborately?"

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "You really should be. After all these years… Jing Li has truly surprised me."

Feng Zhiyao scoffed. "I doubt it. The truly cunning one is the person by his side. If he really had such schemes, why would he forsake… and choose Ye Ying instead?"

Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "What about Princess Li? She’s the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue and the younger sister of Ye Zhaoyi."

Feng Zhiyao sneered. "Sister-in-law is also the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue, and the granddaughter of Mr. Qingyun."

"Feng San, do you know why the Emperor was at ease letting me marry A Li?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

Feng Zhiyao raised an eyebrow. Mo Xiuyao continued, "The Xu family doesn’t rely on anyone, nor will they become an asset in anyone’s bid for the throne. This is something the Emperor understands, I understand, and Mo Jingli naturally understands as well. He could never gain any assistance from the Xu family. On the contrary, if he intended to raise an army in rebellion or plot treason that endangered the people, the Xu family might even become his obstacle. The stories of the Xu ancestors personally slaying a tyrannical ruler and then wholeheartedly supporting generations of Da Chu’s emperors aren’t mere legends. But Mo Jingli probably only thinks the Xu family is blindly loyal to the Emperor—after all, those true secrets are only passed down among each generation’s emperor, Prince Ding, and the head of the Xu family."

"Even so, setting aside the Xu family, both are legitimate daughters of Lord Ye. At least the third young lady was granted an imperial marriage decree by the late Emperor, making it more legitimate, no?" Feng Zhiyao argued.

Ye Li smiled faintly, pressing her lips together. "I think I can guess the reason."

Both men turned to look at her. Ye Li lowered her gaze and said, "My father… is likely the Empress Dowager’s man. He must have known Prince Li’s intentions and the Empress Dowager’s wishes. But if he had married me, he probably thought Prince Li would value not the Ye family, but the Xu family behind me. However, my fourth sister’s maternal family is weak. If she became Princess Li or… in the future, things would be entirely different. The Ye family would rise to prominence overnight. Currently, the imperial palace has an Empress in the main palace, Consort Liu as the favored concubine, and multiple princes under her care. If my father truly serves the Empress Dowager, he wouldn’t be unaware that my second sister isn’t favored. So, from the Emperor’s perspective… the chances of her child… aren’t high. Besides, whether that child could even be born is uncertain."Reflecting on these past days, Ye Li couldn't help but admire her father's cunning. Everyone assumed he married Ye Ying to Prince Li to support Ye Zhaoyi in the palace, unaware that Ye Zhaoyi was actually the backup piece. What a brilliant feint—unfortunately, Ye Ying turned out to be a poor choice. Had there been two Ye Yues, Lord Ye's scheme might have succeeded. It wasn't that these ancients were foolish; rather, she had been the fool for underestimating them. Given Ye Laofuren's shrewdness and Lord Ye's meticulous rise in officialdom, how could she have thought they'd become complacent just because Ye Zhaoyi was pregnant?

"An astonishing deduction," Feng Zhiyao remarked, looking at Ye Li. "How did Princess Ding conclude Lord Ye is the Empress Dowager's man? Even the one on the throne wouldn't suspect this—though you're not wrong."

Ye Li replied calmly, "Father often seems to express dissatisfaction with Prince Li, yet he's never actually done anything against him. Why show discontent after marrying his most valued daughter to the prince? It feels performative. During the previous marriage arrangement involving Lingyun Gongzhu, when both the Empress Dowager and Prince Li were displeased, Father took a firm stance—partly out of concern for Fourth Sister's future. But this time, someone as astute as him must have known Qixia Princess would inevitably enter Prince Li's Palace, and her status there would remain high regardless. Yet Father remained silent. He even sent Fourth Sister back the day she returned home. She told me Father plans to send Fifth Sister as a concubine next month to 'help her secure favor' before Qixia Princess gains ground."

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "A Li is quite right. Lord Ye's early promotion to Minister likely involved the Empress Dowager's influence. But I suspect he's playing both sides."

Ye Li blinked. "You mean he's waiting to see which side has the upper hand before committing?"

"The current emperor's paranoia is beyond ordinary comprehension. Without absolute loyalty, Lord Ye would never have gained his trust."

Despite having pieced much together, Ye Li was still stunned. Her seemingly—and genuinely—smooth-talking father, so muddled in household matters, was actually a double agent?

"But what's the deal between the Empress Dowager and the emperor?" she asked.

Feng Zhiyao scoffed. "Isn't it obvious? Our 'peerless heroine' Empress Dowager, hailed as a female sage, supported the young emperor's ascension and ruled in his stead. But His Majesty wasn't idle—within three years, he reclaimed all power and 'respectfully' retired her to the rear palace. Power... once tasted, is hard to relinquish. Their cordial facade has masked discord for years, an open secret among the nobility. The throne won't change, but its occupant can."

"So the real ambition lies not with Mo Jingli but the Empress Dowager?"Ambition was certainly not lacking in Mo Jingli; he simply hadn't had the opportunity before. Now that the chance had arisen, how could he not cooperate? Prince Li's Palace was his residence, and without his consent, even Consort Xian Zhao would find it difficult to act freely.

Ye Li fell silent. No wonder the Empress Dowager didn't mind the brothers turning against each other—she probably wanted nothing more than to see her two sons fight to the death.

Was power... truly that important?

Feng Zhiyao was momentarily taken aback, his expression darkening slightly as he said, "For some people, it probably is." But the gloom lasted only a moment before he quickly regained his playful demeanor, winking at Mo Xiuyao. "So, Your Highness, now that those two in the palace have started making their moves, should we join in? Or... go for a clean sweep?"

"A clean sweep?" Mo Xiuyao shot him a glance. "And you'll handle the aftermath? If the palace and the capital are drenched in blood, will you take responsibility? If rebellions break out across the land, will you suppress them? If Northern Rong invades, will you hold them off? And if Western Liang decides to join in, will you defend the border?"

"Uh..." Feng Zhiyao scratched his nose awkwardly. "Right. Killing a few people is easy. But dealing with the consequences afterward is a real headache."