Mo Li

Standing before the towering and magnificent palace, Ye Li sighed inwardly. This was her third time entering the palace. Given the rather unpleasant experiences of the previous two visits, being summoned by the emperor 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 fawning whisper. Ye Li glanced at him and vaguely 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 Li, Princess of the State, greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be at peace." The spacious palace felt cold and desolate, lacking human warmth. Mo Jingqi sat high on 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. Has it improved 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 tranquility and composure in the presence of a ruler seemed anything but ordinary. Moreover, according to the intelligence he had received, Prince Ding cared deeply for this princess. Could someone who held no innate ability truly capture Prince Ding’s attention? It seemed… he had indeed misjudged her initially. Even his arrogant younger brother, Mo Jingli, had suffered several defeats at her hands. Remembering Mo Jingli’s ink-black expression whenever Ye Li was mentioned, Mo Jingqi began to seriously question whether marrying this woman to Mo Xiuyao had been an insult or a boon.

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

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

"Your Majesty flatters me. These are merely my duties," Ye Li replied indifferently.The two exchanged pleasantries for quite some time, but as Mo Jingqi observed the composed and unflappable woman below, his irritation grew. 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—so much so that they were practically confronting each other openly. Due to the Empress Dowager and Prince Li's actions, the court was also beginning to show signs of unrest. Meanwhile, his trusted subordinate Guan Ting, who had been stationed at Snowbreak Pass, had inexplicably had his leg broken by a horse, forcing a change in the pass's garrison commander. He had sent Guan Ting to Snowbreak Pass both to keep an eye on Mo Jingli and to guard against Nanzhao. The newly appointed 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 competent—at least, none who could convincingly replace Murong Shen.

The recent news that Mo Jingli had dared to secretly collude with the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border only stoked Mo Jingqi's fury. But he had no choice but to suppress it. Mo Jingli was his own brother, and he lacked any concrete evidence of his dealings with the Holy Maiden. Neither the Empress Dowager nor the court officials aligned with Mo Jingli would permit him to take action against 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 hindered by various factions.

"Princess Ding," Mo Jingqi suddenly asked after a moment of silence, his gaze fixed on Ye Li, "when I decreed your marriage to Prince Ding, did you harbor any resentment?"

Ye Li was taken aback but quickly masked her surprise, replying calmly, "The Emperor's decree was a great favor to Ye Li. How could I possibly resent it?"

"Oh?" Mo Jingqi leaned forward with interest, smiling down at her. "You were originally betrothed to Prince Li by the late emperor's decree. My younger brother is a man of exceptional talent, unmatched in both civil and martial arts—the very pinnacle of the capital's elite. Yet, with a single edict, you went from being Princess Li to the pitied Princess Ding. Can you truly claim to feel no resentment at all?" Ye Li's eyes flickered briefly before she answered with a faint smile, "Prince Li annulled the marriage first, and Your Majesty's decree followed, rescuing Ye Li from an awkward predicament. Why would I resent it?"

"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 setback at your hands."

Ye Li's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her composure. "Your Majesty jests. Ye Li lacks the capability to cause Prince Li any trouble. Might I ask... why Your Majesty has summoned me today?" If this conversation dragged on, 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 eyes deferentially. "Your Majesty, I am ignorant in such matters... Ye Li knows nothing of Prince Li's dealings with any Holy Maiden.""You don't understand?" Mo Jingqi raised an eyebrow, looking at Ye Li with a mocking smile. "Prince Ding trusts his consort 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 Consort. And now you're telling 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."

"Audacious!" Mo Jingqi roared, his eyes gleaming with malice and killing intent. An ordinary noblewoman might have been frightened by this deliberate display of hostility, but to Ye Li, such threats were 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. "I know better than you how well-informed the Ding Royal Palace is. Ye Li, Mo Xiuyao won't be able to protect you forever. You may not understand Jing Li's temperament, but Mo Xiuyao surely 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. Yet he knew he couldn't do anything to the Princess Consort of Ding within the palace. After staring at her for a long moment, he finally snorted and ordered someone to escort her out.

"Your Majesty." As Ye Li departed, Mo Jingqi's expression shifted unpredictably. A plain, unremarkable young man emerged from the rear hall, bowing respectfully. Mo Jingqi suppressed his rage and addressed him, "Assigning Ye Li to Mo Xiuyao was clearly a misstep. What was Ye Wenhua thinking? This Ye Li is more troublesome than all four of his daughters combined! With her, the Xu family might very well support Mo Xiuyao." The young man lowered his voice. "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, Huaguogong 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 is wholeheartedly 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 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 and thought for a while before saying, "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 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 brows, watching Mo Jingqi’s coldly smiling face, but ultimately suppressed his concerns. He hoped the Emperor would not invest too much effort in the Southern Border.

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

As soon 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, her status in the palace had not risen as originally expected; she remained a Zhaoyi. Moreover, she became the only consort who had borne a prince but had not been promoted to the rank of Consort. This immediately made Ye Yue’s position, which had been soaring in the first half of the year, somewhat awkward. Even with two sisters who were the principal wives of princes, lacking sufficient status in the palace made Ye Yue’s life difficult.

Ye Li understood that 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 Ye Li’s blunt refusal and stammered, "Princess, Ye Zhaoyi begs you to see her out of sisterly affection."

Ye Li frowned. Since Mo Jingqi had already set his sights 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 safely in the depths of the palace, she should stay out of those affairs. Yet now, 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 deep within the palace, probably couldn’t avoid them.

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

"Thank you, Princess!" The chief eunuch exclaimed joyfully upon hearing her agreement and quickly guided her toward Ye Yue’s Yaohua Palace.

Compared to the radiant Ye Yue Ye Li had seen during her first visit to Yaohua Palace—despite her pregnancy—the current Ye Yue appeared much more subdued. Sitting on the soft couch with the infant prince in her arms, her beautiful face was etched with worry and gloom.

When she saw Ye Li enter, she hurriedly 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 little 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 leaves me with little choice. What else can I do?"

Ye Li frowned. "Now that Second Sister has the little prince, you should focus on caring for him. No matter how ruthless the Emperor is, 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. The power struggle between the Emperor, Prince Li, and the Empress Dowager was not something she could influence. Instead, Lord Ye’s duplicity would only drag her down. If Mo Jingqi emerged victorious, her status as the mother of a prince would at least spare her life. If Mo Jingli won, as a mere woman, she had no means 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 will never bring glory to the Ye family. And the Emperor... once he truly consolidates power, Father’s actions today may well bring ruin upon us."

"So the Emperor hasn’t promoted 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 boundless. But gradually, she realized the palace was nothing like the paradise she had imagined. The Emperor’s greatest affection lay with Consort Liu, whose beauty and talents were unmatched. His deepest respect was reserved for the noble and dignified Empress. Ye Yue, who had prided herself on her own brilliance, found herself insignificant among the palace’s countless beauties. Even the Emperor’s initial favor had been nothing more than a reward for her father’s loyalty. Once that loyalty came into question, the ruthless sovereign no longer bothered to spare her dignity.

The heart of an emperor was cold. Whether Ye Yue had chosen this path willingly or been forced into it, Ye Li could offer little sympathy. "Did Second Sister summon me for a reason?"

Meeting Ye Li’s calm and indifferent gaze, Ye Yue finally shook her head. "It was just my foolish wishful thinking. Even if I begged Third Sister to help us now, you wouldn’t agree, would you?"

"I can’t help you," Ye Li said. "Right now... no one can help anyone. If Second Sister knows about the conflict between the Emperor and Prince Li, then you must also understand Prince Ding’s Estate’s predicament. It’s no better than yours."

Ye Yue sighed. "I always thought myself clever, but now I see Third Sister is the true wise one 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 stood up abruptly, 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, murmuring 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 of 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, mysteriously disappeared.

"Your Highness... Your Highness! Something terrible has happened—" In Ding Royal Palace, Head Steward Mo, known for his composure, rushed in disarray toward the study in the main courtyard's side chamber.

Feng Zhiyao lounged lazily in a chair at the corner of the study, watching with amusement. "Ah Yao, for Head Steward Mo to be this frightened, it must truly be dire—" Before he could finish, Head Steward Mo reached the study door, his face ashen as he addressed Mo Xiuyao. "Your Highness, the Princess... the Princess has gone missing in the palace!"

Feng Zhiyao froze, then 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 before slowly placing the scroll in his hand back on the table. His voice was low and steady. "What happened?"

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

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 palace shadow guards couldn't find them."

"Excellent." Mo Xiuyao's voice was icy, devoid of overt anger yet chilling to the bone. The study seemed to freeze over in an instant, the air thick with frost. "The Princess vanishes, her two maids disappear, and the palace shadow guards know nothing. Truly splendid... Should I commend them for their loyalty all these years?"

"Your Highness, please calm your anger," Feng Zhiyao and Head Steward Mo both knelt, their faces pale with fear.

Mo Xiuyao didn't spare them a glance, waving dismissively. "Prepare at once. I am going to the palace immediately. Feng Zhiyao, secretly block all exits from the capital. I don’t want a single suspicious person leaving the city."

Feng Zhiyao rose swiftly. "As you command."

Head Steward Mo hesitated. "Your Highness, your health... it may not be wise to—" Before he could finish, Mo Xiuyao's sharp, blade-like gaze silenced him, the unspoken words catching in his throat. Feng Zhiyao quickly pulled Head Steward Mo out of the study.

Once outside, Head Steward Mo frowned in worry. "His Highness's condition can't withstand this strain... I understand his concern for the Princess, but if he collapses too, Ding Royal Palace won't need enemies to bring it down—it'll fall on its own."

Feng Zhiyao shook his head. "You know his temperament. Reasoning with him now is futile. Hurry and fetch Shen. It's best if he accompanies His Highness to the palace."Head Steward Mo also understood that Feng Zhiyao's words made sense, so he could only sigh deeply and hurry towards the guest courtyard where Shen Yang was temporarily staying. Feng Zhiyao turned back and cast a worried glance at the silent study, sighing inwardly as he hoped Ye Li would remain safe and unharmed.

Inside the study, Mo Xiuyao sat silently, his head lowered as he stared at his hands resting on the armrests. His overly pale hands, weakened by prolonged illness, had unknowingly formed a thin layer of frost. Mo Xiuyao watched expressionlessly, as if completely unaware of the abnormality in his hands. Gradually, the frost began to melt into fine droplets, eventually transforming into faint wisps of warm vapor that dissipated into the air of the study without a trace. 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 blue robe, then calmly retrieved a snow-white handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped away the blood. Mo Jingqi... you're asking for death!

The palace was already in chaos. Mo Jingqi's face was dark as he glared at everyone present, his eyes flickering with suspicion and fury. He might not have cared if Ye Yue and the newborn prince had perished in the fire, but the fact that the Princess of the State was also involved made it impossible for him to ignore. Mo Jingqi never imagined that someone could exploit such a loophole within his own palace. Indeed, the moment the incident occurred, he realized 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 could hardly fathom the uproar that would erupt if the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry took action over this. Although 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 sitting nearby, and his expression grew even more complicated. If asked whom he suspected first, it would undoubtedly be his own mother. Having grown up under her care, he was well aware of 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 he glanced at Mo Jingli, who sat idly by as if uninvolved, and the anger in Mo Jingqi's eyes gradually faded. He couldn't afford to lose his composure now—there were even more formidable challenges ahead. 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 closed its doors to visitors as it did every year. This allowed many to slowly set their worries aside. Now, in early spring, the climate of the capital still carried a biting chill. Mo Xiuyao was wheeled in by A Jin, draped in a pale blue cloak embroidered with silver cloud patterns, the collar revealing the white royal robe with silver dragon embroidery beneath. Even with half his face concealed by a mask, it was clear that Mo Xiuyao’s complexion was not well. His unusually pale skin indicated 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 loudly, "Prince Ding, you are excused from formalities."

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

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

"Condolences?" Mo Xiuyao’s gaze swept coldly over the assembly. "My wife entered the palace by imperial summons, and now you tell me she is missing and offer condolences?"

"The fire in Yaohua Palace claimed the lives of Ye Zhaoyi, the Sixth Prince, and the palace servants. Only the Princess of the State is unaccounted for," the Empress Dowager interjected, sitting upright. "Prince Ding is right—perhaps she survived. But as it stands... there is no trace of her, alive or dead. The fire in Yaohua Palace... is indeed suspicious."

Ye Ying, seated beside Mo Jingli, had long since cried her eyes red. She had envied Ye Yue and disliked Ye Li, but she never imagined both sisters would vanish so suddenly. Ye Yue had treated her well when they were at home, and over the past six months, her relationship with Ye Li had also improved. Life as the Princess of Li’s household had taught her much that Wang Shi had never imparted. She knew well that the deaths of Ye Yue and Ye Li would bring her no benefit. "Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, how could my second sister’s Yaohua Palace suddenly catch fire? And how could it be a coincidence that my third sister was there as well? I beg you to seek justice for my sisters!"

Mo Jingli scoffed beside her. "Blame Ye Li’s ill fate. Instead of staying safely in the palace, she wandered about and ended up buried with Ye Zhaoyi and the Sixth Prince."

Consort Liu, seated beside Mo Jingqi, lifted her head coldly at Mo Jingli’s words. "Prince Li, are you suggesting someone intended to harm Ye Zhaoyi and the Sixth Prince, and Princess Ding was merely caught in the crossfire?" Mo Jingli sneered. "Isn’t it obvious? Who would dare—and have the means—to set fire and kill within the palace? And just so happened to burn Ye Zhaoyi and the Sixth Prince to death? Who knows if 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, fixing them on 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, we must give an explanation to the court officials and the people. We can't simply say that Princess Ding disappeared in the palace like this. If that were the case, which official's wife would dare to enter the palace in the future?"

The Empress frowned and asked, "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. Sitting here idly won’t bring the culprit before us, will it? Surely Prince Ding shares my opinion. Mo Xiuyao, don’t you agree?"

Mo Jingqi naturally did not want his own harem searched, but faced with Prince Li’s seemingly upright proposal and Prince Ding’s indifferent support, he had no choice but to consent. He could almost foresee how, by tomorrow, this incident would become a joke spreading to every corner of Chu. Mo Jingqi seethed inwardly—his beloved 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 physical discomfort, 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 pile of unsavory affairs from Mo Jingqi’s harem. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t mind observing the spectacle, but right now, his mood was foul. Merely enduring the court discussions with a calm demeanor had already pushed him to his limit.

"Your Highness, your health..." 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. Tell 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 A Li’s skills, escaping Yaohua Palace would not have been impossible. Then..." Mo Xiuyao frowned in contemplation. The fire had reduced Yaohua Palace to ashes, leaving no clues behind. The 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 coolly, "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 servant obeys. I will not fail Your Highness’s command."

Mo Xiuyao gave a light hum and said indifferently, "This prince will let this matter pass. But if you fail in the remaining tasks, none of you need ever appear before me again."

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

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