Mo Li

Standing before the towering and magnificent palace, Ye Li sighed inwardly. This was her third time entering the palace. Given the unpleasant experiences of the previous two visits, the emperor’s summons this time made her even more cautious and wary. As the Princess of the State, she was still a woman of the inner court. Under normal circumstances, even if the emperor truly wished to see her, the summons should have been issued in the name of the empress or Ye Zhaoyi.

"Princess Ding, His Majesty is inside. Please enter," the eunuch leading the way said in a slightly ingratiating whisper. Ye Li glanced at him and faintly recalled that he was the same eunuch who had delivered the imperial marriage decree to the Ye residence.

Ye Li nodded. Both Qingluan and Qingyu had been left outside, and the shadow guards naturally couldn’t move freely within the palace. Thus, Ye Li had to enter the resplendent palace—a symbol of power and wealth—alone.

"Ye, Princess of the State, greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be at peace." The spacious hall felt cold and empty, devoid of human presence. Mo Jingqi sat high upon the throne, looking down at the woman who had curtsied before him. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Princess Ding, rise."

Ye Li stood and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Mo Jingqi gestured to a chair nearby, indicating for Ye Li to sit, and asked with a smile, "Prince Ding’s health has been poor since winter began. I wonder if he has improved by now."

Lowering her gaze, Ye Li replied softly, "Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. As the weather grows warmer, though His Highness’s health remains frail, it is much better than during the harsh winter."

Mo Jingqi narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing the woman’s demeanor. She appeared calm and serene, like an ordinary young lady of the inner court. But such composure and tranquility in the presence of a ruler seemed anything but ordinary. Moreover, according to the intelligence he had received, Prince Ding held this princess in high regard. Could someone who instinctively drew Prince Ding’s attention truly be unremarkable?

It seemed… he had indeed misjudged her initially. Even his arrogant younger brother had suffered several defeats at her hands. Recalling Mo Jingli’s ink-black expression whenever Ye Li was mentioned, Mo Jingqi began to genuinely question whether marrying such a woman to Mo Xiuyao had been an insult or a boon to the latter.

But it didn’t matter… soon, he would resolve all these issues.

"Managing the Ding Royal Palace while caring for Prince Ding must be taxing. You’ve worked hard, Princess," Mo Jingqi said with a smile.

"Your Majesty flatters me. These are merely my duties," Ye Li replied indifferently.After exchanging pleasantries for quite some time, Mo Jingqi grew increasingly irritated as he observed the composed and unflappable woman before him. It seemed that ever since issuing the imperial marriage decree for Prince Ding, nothing had gone smoothly. Mo Jingli, who had previously only made covert moves, was now becoming increasingly bold under the Empress Dowager's influence—almost openly opposing him. Due to the Empress Dowager and Prince Li's actions, the court was also beginning to show signs of unease. Meanwhile, his trusted subordinate Guan Ting, who had been stationed at Snowbreak Pass, had inexplicably had his leg broken by a horse, necessitating a change in the pass's commander. He had sent Guan Ting to Snowbreak Pass both to keep an eye on Mo Jingli and to guard against Nanzhao. The replacement, Murong Shen, though capable in battle, was not as trustworthy as Guan Ting. Entrusting such a crucial location to someone outside his inner circle left Mo Jingqi deeply unsettled. Yet, after reviewing his options, he had to admit that few among his trusted subordinates were truly capable—at least, none convincing enough to replace Murong Shen.

The recent news that Mo Jingli had secretly colluded with the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border only stoked Mo Jingqi's fury. But he had to suppress it—Mo Jingli was his own brother, and he lacked concrete evidence of any connection between him and the Holy Maiden. Neither the Empress Dowager nor the court officials aligned with Mo Jingli would permit him to punish Prince Li. He was the emperor, yet he often found himself far from the absolute authority he had once imagined. Even simple decisions were frequently obstructed by various factions.

After a moment of silence, Mo Jingqi abruptly asked, "Princess Ding, when I decreed your marriage to Prince Ding, did you resent me?"

Ye Li was momentarily taken aback, swiftly analyzing the emperor's intent, but her expression remained calm as she replied, "The imperial marriage decree was an honor bestowed upon me. How could I resent Your Majesty?"

"Oh?" Mo Jingqi leaned forward with interest, smiling down at her. "You were originally the late emperor's chosen Princess Li. My younger brother is a man of exceptional talent, unmatched in both civil and martial arts—the finest among the capital's elite. Yet, with a single decree, you went from being Princess Li to the pitied Princess Ding. Are you truly without even a trace of resentment?"

Ye Li's eyes flickered slightly before she answered with a faint smile, "Prince Li annulled the marriage first. Your Majesty's decree merely resolved my predicament. Why would I resent you?"

"If not me… then do you resent Prince Li?" Mo Jingqi pressed. "After all, from what I've heard, my younger brother has suffered more than one loss at your hands."

Her heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her composure. "Your Majesty jests. I lack the capability to cause Prince Li any harm. Might I ask… why Your Majesty summoned me today?" If this continued, she might not leave the palace until noon. A noblewoman spending too much time alone with the emperor, without the presence of imperial consorts, was hardly proper.

Mo Jingqi chuckled. "Good. I appreciate clever people. In that case, I won't mince words. Princess Ding, does Prince Ding know about Mo Jingli's collusion with the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border?"

Ye Li lowered her gaze deferentially. "Your Majesty, I am slow-witted… I know nothing of Prince Li's affairs with any Holy Maiden."Don't understand? Mo Jingqi raised an eyebrow, looking at Ye Li with a mocking smile. "Prince Ding trusts his princess immensely. As far as I know, during Prince Ding's severe illness, many affairs of the Ding Royal Palace were personally handled by the princess. And now you tell me you don't know? Do you know... the penalty for deceiving the emperor?" A cold glint flashed in Ye Li's half-lowered eyes as she kept her gaze fixed on the ground. "Deceiving the emperor is punishable by death. However... if Your Majesty is certain that the Ding Royal Palace knows about Prince Li's affairs, why not ask the prince directly? I am merely a woman. Even if I manage the Ding Royal Palace, I would not interfere in court matters."

"Impudence!" Mo Jingqi roared, his eyes gleaming with malice and killing intent. An ordinary noblewoman might have been terrified by such deliberate intimidation, but to Ye Li, this level of threat was far from enough.

Rising gracefully, she gave a slight bow. "I have overstepped. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

Mo Jingqi snorted coldly, his gaze fixed on her. "The Ding Royal Palace's intelligence network is more extensive than you think—I know better than you. Ye Li, Mo Xiuyao won't be able to protect you forever. You may not understand Jing Li's temperament, but Mo Xiuyao certainly does. You might as well go back and ask him before considering my question." Ye Li found this inwardly amusing—was the emperor threatening her?

"Thank you for Your Majesty's advice. I will consider it carefully," Ye Li replied.

Seeing her remain so unyielding, Mo Jingqi's anger flared even more. But he knew he couldn't do anything to Princess Ding within the palace. After staring at her for a long while, he finally snorted and ordered someone to escort her out.

"Your Majesty." As Ye Li departed, Mo Jingqi's expression shifted unpredictably. A plain-looking, unremarkable young man emerged from the rear hall, bowing respectfully to him. Mo Jingqi took a deep breath to calm his fury before addressing the man. "Assigning Ye Li to Mo Xiuyao was clearly a misstep. What was Ye Wenhua thinking? This Ye Li is more troublesome than his four daughters combined! With her, the Xu family might end up supporting Mo Xiuyao." The young man replied softly, "The Xu family has not had excessive contact with the Ding Royal Palace. Besides, now is not the time to provoke the Xu family further." The young man sighed inwardly—the emperor was excellent in many ways, but his excessive suspicion was a flaw. At a time when they were secretly contending with Prince Li and the Empress Dowager, it was unwise to make more enemies. If the emperor's paranoia pushed the Xu family toward Prince Li or Prince Ding, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Mo Jingqi was well aware of the young man's counsel, but his inability to fully control the situation left him deeply frustrated. Waving his hand, he frowned and asked, "During the morning court, Duke Hua proposed that Great Chu assist the Nanzhao royal family in quelling their rebellion. What do you think?"The young man pondered for a moment before nodding. "Huaguogong (Duke Hua) is devoted to the nation, and his proposal is indeed beneficial to us without any harm. However, we need not rush to quell the rebellion for them. Let the King of Nanzhao and the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border fight among themselves. As long as we provide some assistance when needed, the King of Nanzhao will surely remember His Majesty's kindness."

Mo Jingqi frowned in thought and said, "You make a valid point. I want to see what my dear younger brother is up to. He wants to help the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border, doesn’t he? Well, I’ll side with the Nanzhao royal family instead. Let’s see who comes out on top in the end!"

The young man furrowed his brow, watching Mo Jingqi’s cold smile, but ultimately suppressed his concerns. He only hoped the Emperor would not invest too much effort in the Southern Border.

"Princess Ding, Ye Zhaoyi requests an audience with you."

Just as she stepped out of the hall, Ye Li encountered the chief eunuch from Ye Yue’s palace, who had been waiting nearby. Ye Li frowned slightly. In the tenth month, Ye Yue had safely given birth to a prince—the Emperor’s sixth son. However, contrary to expectations, Ye Yue’s status in the palace had not risen. She remained a Zhaoyi, becoming the only consort who had borne a prince without being promoted to a higher rank. This immediately cast an awkward shadow over Ye Yue, whose influence had seemed unstoppable earlier in the year. Even with two sisters married to imperial princes, lacking sufficient status in the palace made life difficult for Ye Yue.

Ye Li understood—this was likely Mo Jingqi’s warning to the Ye family.

After a moment’s thought, Ye Li said, "This princess is feeling unwell and wishes to return to the manor to rest. Please convey my apologies to Ye Zhaoyi."

"Princess..." The chief eunuch was clearly taken aback by her blunt refusal and stammered, "Princess, Ye Zhaoyi begs you to see her out of sisterly affection."

Ye Li frowned. Since Mo Jingqi was already keeping an eye on her, the Empress Dowager’s attention would likely follow soon. Meeting Ye Yue now would bring no benefit to either of them. Last year, she had warned Ye Yue that if she wanted to survive peacefully in the depths of the palace, she should stay out of such affairs. Yet it seemed Ye Yue had still gotten involved.

But then again, since the Ye family had already waded into these troubled waters, Ye Yue, even within the palace, could hardly avoid them.

"Very well, lead the way," Ye Li relented.

"Many thanks, Princess!" The eunuch exclaimed gratefully and hurriedly guided her toward Ye Yue’s Yaohua Palace.

Compared to the radiant Ye Yue—pregnant but glowing—that Ye Li had seen during her first visit to Yaohua Palace, the current Ye Yue appeared much diminished. Seated on a soft couch with the swaddled infant prince in her arms, her beautiful face was etched with worry and gloom.

When she saw Ye Li enter, she quickly tried to rise, but Ye Li shook her head. "Second Sister, there’s no need for formalities."Ye Yue dismissed the attendants around her and looked at Ye Li, whose demeanor, though composed, was evidently more elegant and dignified than in previous months. With a bitter smile, she said, "I thought Third Sister wouldn't come to see me."

Ye Li lowered her gaze and replied softly, "Second Sister should know that meeting now brings no benefit to you or the young prince."

Ye Yue froze, then glanced down at the oblivious child in her arms and smiled wryly. "How could I not know? But... as Third Sister can see, my current situation is dire. What else can I do?"

Ye Li frowned. "Now that Second Sister has the young prince, you should focus on caring for him. No matter how ruthless His Majesty may be, he won’t harm his own flesh and blood. As for Father’s affairs... it’s best you stay out of them."

The rest was beyond Ye Yue’s control. She lacked the ability to influence the power struggle between the emperor, Prince Li, and the Empress Dowager. Worse, she might suffer for Lord Ye’s duplicity. If Mo Jingqi won, she at least had the prince to shield her from execution. If Mo Jingli triumphed, she, a mere woman, could do nothing to change fate.

Clutching her child, Ye Yue stared blankly at Ye Li before murmuring, "Grandmother was wrong. Father was wrong too. I know Ying’er’s temperament—she’s more trouble than she’s worth. Whether Prince Li wins or loses, Fourth Sister won’t bring glory to the Ye family. And the emperor... once His Majesty consolidates absolute power, Father’s actions today may well doom our family."

"Has His Majesty refused to promote Second Sister because of Father?" Ye Li asked.

"What else could it be?" Ye Yue laughed, her smile tinged with sorrow. When she first entered the palace, she had been ambitious, her aspirations sky-high. But gradually, she realized the imperial harem was nothing like she imagined. The emperor adored the peerlessly beautiful and talented Consort Liu, and respected the noble, dignified empress. Ye Yue, who once prided herself on her talents and looks, was just another face among countless beauties. Even his initial favor had been due to her father’s loyalty. Once the emperor realized Lord Ye wasn’t as devoted as he believed, the ruthless ruler couldn’t be bothered to spare her even the slightest courtesy.

The emperor was heartless. Whether Ye Yue had chosen this path willingly or been forced into it, Ye Li couldn’t muster much sympathy. "Did Second Sister summon me for something specific?"

Meeting Ye Li’s cool, detached gaze, Ye Yue finally shook her head. "It was foolish of me. Even if I begged Third Sister to help us now, you wouldn’t agree."

"I can’t help you," Ye Li said. "Right now... no one can help anyone. If Second Sister knows about the conflict between His Majesty and Prince Li, you must also know Prince Ding’s Estate is in no better position than you."

Ye Yue sighed. "I always thought myself clever. Now I see Third Sister was the wisest among us."

Ye Li frowned slightly. "Since Second Sister has nothing further, I’ll take my leave."Ye Yue sat quietly on the soft couch, holding her child, her gaze towards Ye Li tinged with faint remorse. Suddenly, Ye Li felt a surge of vigilance and abruptly stood up, only to be overwhelmed by dizziness. Her vision darkened, and she collapsed to the ground with a thud. Ye Yue silently watched Ye Li fall, whispering softly, "I'm sorry, Third Sister. I am a mother now. I must think of my son's future."

In the spring of the twelfth year of Emperor Ping's reign in Great Chu, a fire broke out in Yaohua Palace. Zhaoyi Ye and the Sixth Prince perished in the flames, while Ye Li, the Princess of the State who had been visiting Zhaoyi Ye at the time, went missing.

"Your Highness... Your Highness! Something terrible has happened..." In Ding Royal Palace, Head Steward Mo, known for his composure and steadiness, rushed in disarray toward the study in the side hall of the main courtyard.

Feng Zhiyao lounged lazily in a chair in the corner of the study, watching with amusement. "Ah Yao, to see Head Steward Mo this frightened—it must truly be dire..." Before he could finish, Head Steward Mo had already reached the study door, his face pale as he addressed Mo Xiuyao. "Your Highness, the Princess... the Princess has gone missing in the palace!" Feng Zhiyao froze, then immediately leapt to his feet. "How is that possible? How could she just vanish in the palace?" Both men turned to look at Mo Xiuyao, who seemed momentarily dazed. Only when their gazes fell upon him did he slowly set down the scroll in his hand. His voice was low as he asked, "What happened?"

Head Steward Mo trembled as he spoke. "After the Princess had an audience with His Majesty, Zhaoyi Ye of Yaohua Palace sent someone to invite her over, saying she had a request. By the time the shadow guards in the palace arrived, the entire Yaohua Palace was already engulfed in flames. Zhaoyi Ye and the Sixth Prince perished in the fire, while the Princess... the Princess is missing."

Mo Xiuyao leaned back in his wheelchair, closing his eyes briefly before asking in a measured tone, "Where are Qingluan and Qingyu?"

"Qingluan and Qingyu are also missing," Head Steward Mo replied gravely. "They did not enter Yaohua Palace with the Princess, but... the shadow guards in the palace could not find them."

"Excellent." Mo Xiuyao's voice was soft, seemingly devoid of anger, yet it carried a bone-chilling coldness. The study seemed to freeze over in an instant, as if encased in frost. "The Princess is missing, her two maids are nowhere to be found, and the palace shadow guards knew nothing. Truly splendid... Should I commend them for their loyalty and diligence all these years?"

"Your Highness, please calm your anger." Both Feng Zhiyao and Head Steward Mo paled and knelt in apology.

Mo Xiuyao did not look at them, merely waving a hand dismissively. "Prepare at once. I am going to the palace immediately. Feng Zhiyao, secretly block all exits from the capital. I do not want a single suspicious person leaving the city." Feng Zhiyao rose to his feet. "As you command."

Head Steward Mo hesitated before speaking. "Your Highness, your health right now is not suited for—" Before he could finish, Mo Xiuyao cast him a glance so sharp it felt like a blade, silencing him mid-sentence. Feng Zhiyao quickly pulled Head Steward Mo out of the room.

Once outside, Head Steward Mo frowned in worry. "His Highness's health cannot withstand this strain... I understand his concern for the missing Princess, but if His Highness collapses as well, Ding Royal Palace won't need any further schemes—it will be finished."

Feng Zhiyao shook his head. "You know His Highness's temperament. There's no use arguing now. Hurry and fetch Shen. It would be best if he accompanies His Highness to the palace."Head Steward Mo also understood that Feng Zhiyao's words made sense. With a long sigh, he hurried toward the guest courtyard where Shen Yang was temporarily staying. Feng Zhiyao turned back, casting a worried glance at the silent study, and could only sigh inwardly, hoping Ye Li remained safe and unharmed.

In the study, Mo Xiuyao sat silently, his head lowered as he stared at his hands resting on the armrests. A thin layer of frost had formed over the backs of his excessively pale hands—pallid from prolonged illness—though he seemed entirely unaware of the abnormality, his expression indifferent. Gradually, the frost melted into fine droplets of water before finally dissipating into faint wisps of warm vapor, vanishing without a trace in the study. A dark red streak of blood slowly trickled from the corner of Mo Xiuyao's lips. He glanced down at the bloodstain on his pale cyan robe, then unhurriedly drew a snow-white handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped the blood away.

Mo Jingqi… You’re asking for death.

The palace was already in chaos. Mo Jingqi’s face was dark as he scrutinized everyone present, his eyes flickering with suspicion and fury. He could have ignored Ye Yue and the newborn prince perishing in the fire—but if the Princess of the State was also among the victims, then he could not afford to be indifferent. Mo Jingqi never imagined that someone could exploit such a loophole right under his nose in the imperial palace.

Indeed, the moment the incident occurred, Mo Jingqi had sensed that this was no ordinary accidental fire—it was a conspiracy targeting him. The Princess of the State had died in the palace, and worse, she had been summoned by his own decree… Mo Jingqi hardly dared to imagine the uproar that would erupt if the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry took action over this. Though he had immediately dispatched his most trusted men to secure the capital’s defenses, his heart remained unsettled, filled with unease.

His gaze shifted to the Empress Dowager seated nearby, his expression growing even more inscrutable. If asked whom he suspected first, it would undoubtedly be his own mother. Having grown up under her influence, he knew all too well her ruthless nature when it came to achieving her goals. From childhood admiration to present-day resentment, Mo Jingqi refused to admit that he still harbored some fear of the Empress Dowager.

Then his eyes fell on Mo Jingli, sitting idly by as if completely detached from the matter. The anger in Mo Jingqi’s eyes gradually receded. He couldn’t afford to lose his composure now—there were far more formidable figures to deal with later. And he… was the emperor. He could not retreat.

Prince Ding has arrived!

The last time those present had seen Mo Xiuyao was in June of the previous year. At that time, aside from his difficulty in walking, Mo Xiuyao appeared no different from a normal person, which had caused many to feel a twinge of worry. However, within a few months, news spread that Prince Ding had fallen seriously ill, and the Ding Royal Palace, as usual, closed its doors to visitors. This allowed many to slowly set their worries aside.

Now, in early spring, the climate of Chu Capital still carried a biting chill. Mo Xiuyao was wheeled in by A Jin, draped in a pale cyan cloak embroidered with silver cloud patterns, the collar revealing the white princely court robes adorned with silver dragons beneath. Even with half his face concealed by a mask, it was clear that his complexion was unwell—his unusually pale skin a sign that he was indeed still ill.

"Your subject, Prince Ding Mo Xiuyao, greets His Majesty, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager," Mo Xiuyao said calmly from his wheelchair.

The hall fell into solemn silence. Mo Jingqi composed himself and spoke clearly, "Prince Ding, you are excused from formalities."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Mo Xiuyao replied. "Forgive my discourtesy, but may I ask where my wife is?"

The crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Mo Jingqi glanced at the indifferent Empress Dowager and Mo Jingli, his expression darkening, before turning to the Empress. The Empress sighed inwardly and said softly, "Prince Ding, the Princess Ding was also in Yaohua Palace at the time. It is likely that she has... Please accept our condolences."

"Condolences?" Mo Xiuyao's gaze swept coldly over the assembly. "My wife entered the palace upon imperial summons. Now she is missing, and you tell me to accept condolences?"

"The fire in Yaohua Palace claimed Ye Zhaoyi, the Sixth Prince, and the palace servants. Only the Princess of the State is unaccounted for," the Empress Dowager said, sitting up with a grave expression. "Prince Ding is right—perhaps she escaped unharmed. However... as it stands, the Princess is neither among the living nor the dead. The fire in Yaohua Palace... is indeed highly suspicious."

Ye Ying, seated beside Mo Jingli, had long since cried her eyes red. She had indeed envied Ye Yue and disliked Ye Li, but she never imagined both sisters would vanish so suddenly. Moreover, Ye Yue had treated her well when they were still in their family home, and over the past six months, her relationship with Ye Li had also improved. Life as the Princess of Prince Li's Palace had taught her many things Wang Shi had never prepared her for. She understood clearly that the deaths of Ye Yue and Ye Li would bring her no advantage.

"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty," she pleaded, "how could my second sister's Yaohua Palace suddenly catch fire? And how could it be such a coincidence that my third sister was inside? I beg you to seek justice for my sisters!"

Mo Jingli shot her a glance and scoffed. "Blame it on Ye Li's bad luck. Instead of staying safely in the palace, she wandered around and ended up buried with Ye Zhaoyi and the Sixth Prince."

Consort Liu, seated beside Mo Jingqi, lifted her head and asked coldly, "Prince Li, are you implying someone intended to harm Ye Zhaoyi and the Sixth Prince, and the Princess Ding was merely caught in the crossfire?"

Mo Jingli smirked. "Isn't that obvious? Who would have the audacity and capability to set fire and kill within the palace? And just so happened to burn Ye Zhaoyi and the Sixth Prince to death? Who knows—maybe Ye Li saw something and was silenced. Even if she wasn't burned to death, she should still be somewhere in the palace."

Mo Jingqi narrowed his eyes and stared at Mo Jingli. "Prince Li, do you have any suggestions?"Mo Jingli smiled and said, "This humble brother has no objections. However, since Princess Ding is currently missing without a trace—neither alive nor dead—we must give the court officials and the people an explanation. We can't simply say that Princess Ding vanished within the palace. If that were the case, which official's wife would dare enter the palace in the future?"

The Empress frowned. "Then what does Prince Li suggest?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, this humble brother suggests conducting a thorough search of the palace. If Princess Ding is truly still alive, she must still be here. Perhaps we might even find the arsonist responsible for the fire. Sitting idly here won’t bring the culprit before us, will it? Surely Prince Ding shares the same view. Mo Xiuyao, don’t you agree?"

Mo Jingqi naturally had no desire to have his harem searched. Yet, faced with Prince Li’s righteous proposal and Prince Ding’s indifferent endorsement, he had no choice but to consent. He could already foresee how, by tomorrow, this incident would become a joke spreading to every corner of Chu. Mo Jingqi seethed inwardly—his younger brother, whom he had doted on since childhood, now seized every opportunity to tarnish his reputation.

Mo Xiuyao did not join the grand search. Instead, citing poor health, he remained in the side hall to rest. He knew full well that Mo Jingli’s so-called search would yield no useful clues. It was far more likely to dredge up a host of unsavory secrets from Mo Jingqi’s harem. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have minded observing the spectacle, but his mood was foul now. Merely enduring the court session and exchanging a few words with those people had already pushed him to his limit.

"Your Highness, your condition..." Shen Yang and Head Steward Mo stood on either side of Mo Xiuyao, their voices laced with concern.

Mo Xiuyao raised a hand to silence them and shook his head. "This prince is fine. Inform Feng Zhiyao to abandon the palace. A Li is not here."

Shen Yang arched a brow. "Your Highness is so certain the princess is still alive?"

"If A Li went to visit Ye Zhaoyi, she must have been with her at the time. Even the remains of the Sixth Prince have been found, yet A Li is nowhere to be seen... Given her skills, she would never have been unable to escape Yaohua Palace. So..." Mo Xiuyao frowned in thought. The fire had reduced Yaohua Palace to ashes, leaving no trace of evidence. His shadow guards had arrived outside the palace the moment the fire broke out, yet they had not seen A Li emerge. Moreover, the fire had spread unnaturally fast...

"Someone."

"Your Highness." An unremarkable old eunuch appeared at an inconspicuous side door of the hall, bowing respectfully as he awaited Mo Xiuyao’s orders.

Mo Xiuyao spoke calmly. "Investigate whether there are any secret passages or hidden chambers in Yaohua Palace. Also, find out who Ye Zhaoyi frequently interacted with while she was alive. Lastly... send someone skilled in medicine to examine the bodies of Ye Zhaoyi and the Sixth Prince."

The old eunuch showed no surprise at the orders. His wrinkled face remained impassive as he replied deferentially, "This subordinate obeys. We will not fail Your Highness."

Mo Xiuyao gave a faint hum. "This prince will overlook this incident. But if you fail in the remaining tasks, none of you need return to face me again."

"Many thanks, Your Highness. This subordinate takes his leave."

"A Li... This prince knows you will be fine. You must be."