Due to the Emperor’s severe illness, a gloomy atmosphere had settled over the imperial palace even before the New Year celebrations concluded. In recent days, the factions led by Prince Li and Chancellor Liu had been locked in both open and covert power struggles on the court floor. Those in the know were well aware of what had caused the Emperor’s illness, and all eyes were fixed on that gleaming golden throne in the great hall. Even the emergency request for aid from Huai at Purple Thorn Pass had been ignored. Mo Jingqi lay in bed, his days passing in a stupor, barely able to care for himself, let alone handle state affairs.
“Your Highness.” The eunuch standing guard outside the imperial chambers, trying to warm his hands and feet in the cold weather, hurriedly bowed upon seeing the approaching man in fine silk robes. His face naturally assumed a fawning smile. Mo Jingli cast a proud glance at the eunuch before him and said coldly, “This Prince has matters to discuss with Imperial Brother.”
The eunuch hesitated, saying with difficulty, “But His Majesty is currently…” Mo Jingli’s sharp gaze swept over him as he said coldly, “What? Does this Prince need your permission to see Imperial Brother?”
The group of eunuchs at the door all trembled inwardly. They had indeed received orders from Noble Consort Liu and Chancellor Liu to prevent Prince Li from entering, but with the current situation in the palace being so uncertain, and Prince Li’s power at its peak, they dared not offend him. After a moment’s hesitation, the guards finally stepped aside, saying with placating smiles, “We wouldn’t dare… Please enter, Your Highness.” Mo Jingli gave a light snort and strode into the imperial chambers.
The magnificent imperial yellow furnishings came into view, causing Mo Jingli’s gaze to waver slightly. Looking at Mo Jingqi lying silently in bed, Mo Jingli suddenly felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. He knew Mo Jingqi wasn’t asleep. He walked leisurely to the bedside and looked down at the emaciated man. A satisfied smile curled his lips – the secret drug he’d obtained from the Southern Territories was far more effective than the so-called Five Stone Powder. While taking it produced no noticeable effects, once stopped, its impact was a hundred times more shocking than Five Stone Powder. In just a few days, Mo Jingqi had been reduced to skin and bones.
After some thought, Mo Jingli carefully placed a tiny pill in Mo Jingqi’s mouth. Mo Jingqi’s dark, confused eyes gradually gained some clarity. Upon seeing the person standing by his window, his eyes blazed with anger, and his throat made rasping sounds. Mo Jingli asked casually, tilting his head, “What does Imperial Brother wish to say?”
“You… you dare come here?!” Mo Jingqi rasped. Having gone several days without speaking or eating much, his voice was dry and extremely hoarse. Mo Jingli smiled, “Why wouldn’t I dare come? Imperial Brother, this subject is worried about you.”
Mo Jingqi glared at the man before him with hatred, as if he wished he could bite him to death. Mo Jingli walked leisurely to the bedside and sat down. Seeing Mo Jingqi’s hateful expression, a strange smile appeared on his face. “Imperial Brother, you really shouldn’t blame me. If you must blame someone… blame Mother Empress. If she hadn’t constantly fed me those ideas to suppress you, if she hadn’t fostered my opposition to you for her power, perhaps we’d still be a pair of close brothers now. Imperial Brother… do you know how much you’ve failed as a person? Look at yourself… Mother Empress wants to deal with you, your brother wants to deal with you, and the imperial clan ignores you. Do you think they don’t know your illness is suspicious? But have they asked about it? If you must blame someone, blame yourself for being too harsh with the clan members, so now when you’re in trouble, no one will help you. Even your most beloved Noble Consort Liu and the Liu family… heh, they likely have their plans already.”
Mo Jingqi’s eyes widened in disbelief. Mo Jingli continued unconcerned, “Has Noble Consort Liu visited you these past days? No… Of course not. Noble Consort Liu’s heart is entirely with Mo Xiuyao. At this time, why would she come to see you? The Liu family is busy figuring out how to put Noble Consort Liu’s son on the throne.”
Mo Jingqi’s face turned green with rage, wanting to roar but lacking even the strength for that. Mo Jingli continued, “Imperial Brother, you know… if I ascend the throne, you might still have a chance to live. After all… even considering Mother Empress and Brother Mo Xiuyao, I would let you live. But if Noble Consort Liu’s son takes the throne, I guarantee you won’t live past a month. After all, how can Noble Consort Liu serve as a regent Empress Dowager with a Grand Emperor above the young emperor? Imperial Brother, you didn’t expect your proud and frost-like Noble Consort to have such ambition, did you? Do you know why she wants to rule as regent? Heh… She wants to control all of Da Chu, and then compete with Ye Li for Mo Xiuyao. What a passionate woman, wouldn’t you say, Imperial Brother?”
“Wah—!” Mo Jingqi’s face alternated between green and red before he finally vomited a mouthful of blood. Lying in bed without even the strength to sit up, the blood covered his neck and collar, even spreading across the lower half of his face, making him look both terrifying and pitiful. The anger and sorrow in the heart of an emperor reduced to such a state can well be imagined.
Mo Jingli looked at him without a trace of pity, “Well? Have you thought it through, Imperial Brother?” Mo Jingqi stared at him for a long while before suddenly laughing. The blood-covered face combined with that eerie smile made Mo Jingli narrow his eyes in displeasure.
Mo Jingqi caught his breath for a moment before speaking, “You want to force Our hand? Brother… don’t forget I’m the elder brother, these tricks of yours are ones We played out long ago. We… truly shouldn’t have shown you mercy back then!” Mo Jingli frowned, looking at Mo Jingqi’s smile with a hint of unease. At this stage, he really couldn’t imagine what cards Mo Jingqi might still have to play.
Staring intently at the blood-covered man in bed, Mo Jingli’s sword-like eyebrows furrowed deeply. Mo Jingqi looked at him with an ambiguous smile and slowly said, “Jingli… after all these years, you still only have one child, right?” Mo Jingli narrowed his eyes slightly, not understanding why he brought this up now. Mo Jingqi continued slowly, “What if We told you that you’ll only ever have this one child? What would you do?”
“What do you mean?!” Mo Jingli’s expression changed as he stepped forward, grabbing Mo Jingqi’s collar and pulling him up from the bed, demanding harshly.
For men, the importance of heirs can sometimes surpass power. While many might sacrifice children for power, that’s because they have many children. If one has none, the meaning of all worldly power and status would instantly diminish by half. To ascend the throne but be unable to pass it to one’s offspring would be like someone spending their whole life accumulating wealth only to benefit another’s son – utterly frustrating. Although Mo Jingli wasn’t childless, his only son – born to Ye Ying – was indeed sickly from a young age, not yet seven years old but constantly causing worry about whether he’d live to twenty.
Shocked by Mo Jingqi’s words, Mo Jingli glared at him fiercely, “What did you do? No… you couldn’t have had a chance to poison me?!” Mo Jingli wasn’t a careless person; in fact, he was more guarded against his brother than anyone. He was extremely careful about his food, clothing, shelter, and travel – Mo Jingqi couldn’t possibly have had a chance to poison him.
Mo Jingqi laughed, clearly pleased by his brother’s anger, “Jingli, you should thank Us for at least letting you keep one child. If you must blame someone, blame yourself for not being content as a prince and choosing to oppose Us.” Mo Jingli’s face darkened, and after a long while he suddenly gave a cold laugh, “As you said, I at least have one son. Want to bet? I’ll kill all your sons one by one!”
Mo Jingqi completely dismissed his threat, smiling faintly, “You think that child in your household is your son? Jingli, you don’t know, but when Princess Li first gave birth to that child, We held him personally. He was a plump, healthy boy – your sickly one isn’t even half his size.”
“Bastard!” Mo Jingli exploded in rage, throwing Mo Jingqi back onto the bed before pouncing forward to grab his throat, roaring, “Where did you take my son?! Tell me!”
Mo Jingqi seemed oblivious to the hands tightly gripping his throat, his waxy face turning red from the choking, yet he kept his eyes half-closed, neither speaking nor responding. Finally, Mo Jingli had to release him in frustration – he couldn’t kill Mo Jingqi now. He’d lose not just the throne but become a notorious king-killer. Looking at the man lying in bed, Mo Jingli gave a cold laugh, “Won’t talk? You think I can’t deal with you? I’ll kill one prince each day until you talk.”
Mo Jingqi opened his eyes to look at him, saying calmly, “We’re dying anyway, why should We care about them? Even if you kill all Our sons, what of it? Changle is still in the Northwest, and though she’s a daughter, she’s still Our blood. While you… are destined to have no descendants. For each prince you kill, We guarantee your son will be served on your breakfast table the next morning.”
At this point, Mo Jingli had to admit that when it came to ruthlessness, he was no match for his brother. “What do you want? You must know your body won’t recover. You think giving the throne to Noble Consort Liu will keep you safe?” For absolute certainty, he would never use a drug that had an antidote. At the mention of Noble Consort Liu, a flash of ruthlessness passed through Mo Jingqi’s eyes. He lowered his gaze, thinking for a while before saying, “What We plan to do is none of your concern.”
Soon after, an imperial edict was issued from the palace. It proclaimed Noble Consort Liu’s eldest son Mo Xiaoyun as Crown Prince and additionally appointed Prince Li Mo Jingli as Regent to manage state affairs. When the edict was announced, the entire court was shocked, unsure of the Emperor’s intentions. Court officials looking to choose sides were confused – should they support the Crown Prince or the Prince Regent?
At Prince Li’s Residence
As soon as Mo Jingli returned home, Ye Ying and Princess Qixia came to greet him. Princess Qixia remained as beautiful as a flower, radiantly captivating, while in contrast, Ye Ying appeared pale and thin. The young woman barely in her early twenties looked almost thirty, holding the hand of a boy who appeared not yet five. But the people of Prince Li’s household knew that this precious young master, pampered by both prince and princess, was already almost seven years old.
“My Lord, congratulations on your appointment as Regent Prince, now holding great power,” Princess Qixia said with a bright and gentle smile that seemed genuine and joyful without being overly flattering. This brought a slight smile to Mo Jingli’s previously stern face.
A flash of jealousy and hatred passed through Ye Ying’s eyes as she led her son forward, smiling, “This humble wife and the young master also congratulate my Lord on becoming Regent Prince…” She gave her son’s hand a slight squeeze, signaling him to speak.
The small child was pale, his frame so frail it seemed a breeze could knock him over. He clung tightly to Ye Ying’s side, appearing terrified of Mo Jingli, his father. Ye Ying gritted her teeth in frustration – she couldn’t understand how she and Mo Jingli, neither of them timid people, could have produced such a mousy son who feared even his father. The child raised his head timidly, his voice barely a whisper as he called out “Father” before falling silent again.
Looking at this cowering child before him, Mo Jingli felt rage building up inside him, nearly ready to explode. How could such a weak, timid, fragile child be his son?! Remembering Mo Jingqi’s satisfied eyes as he lay weak in bed, his anger grew as he glared at the child with eyes that could shoot flames.
“My Lord…” Ye Ying looked at Mo Jingli with confusion, now clearly seeing that he wasn’t happy about becoming Regent Prince – in fact, he was furious. Carefully supporting her son who was trying to hide behind her, Ye Ying cautiously inquired.
Mo Jingli snorted coldly and kicked the child, sending him flying. After having people investigate thoroughly, he’d learned that the midwife at Ye Ying’s delivery had been arranged by Mo Jingqi, and after the birth, everyone in that compound had been replaced and disappeared without a trace. Mo Jingli knew Mo Jingqi hadn’t lied – this sickly child before him wasn’t his son at all. Indeed, he didn’t look like either himself or Ye Ying. Not exactly ugly, but a child who would grow up to be utterly ordinary-looking.
“My Lord?!” Ye Ying screamed. Everyone present – the servants, maids, even Princess Qixia – was stunned. Ye Ying rushed to the child, who had fallen to the ground and was coughing up blood, too weak even to cry, barely breathing. Ye Ying was too frightened to touch him, only able to cry out, “Son… Quick! Summon the Imperial Physician?!”
The servants snapped out of their shock but hesitated, looking at Mo Jingli. The Young Master had been kicked by the Prince himself – whether to summon a physician naturally depended on the Prince’s word. Besides, though most weren’t medical experts, they could see that the Young Master, weak and sickly since birth, was clearly near death after such a violent kick.
“No one moves!” Mo Jingli said coldly. Ye Ying looked up at him in shock, tears hanging on her face, at a loss for words. “My… My Lord…”
Mo Jingli’s disgust with Ye Ying had reached its peak – this woman was useless at best and destructive at worst. He must have been truly mad to want to marry her back then. And because of that, he had missed out on… He stepped forward and grabbed Ye Ying, dragging her toward the inner courtyard as she struggled and cried, looking back at the dying child.
“No… My Lord, the child…” Mo Jingli’s figure disappeared behind the screen wall, leaving everyone present looking at each other uncertainly. Princess Qixia looked at the child on the ground with a hint of schadenfreude in her smile, waving her hand, “Wait for the Prince to finish his business before dealing with this.”
Ye Ying struggled as Mo Jingli dragged her, but how could a weak woman resist his strength? He dragged her back to their chambers and shoved her roughly, causing her to stumble and crash into a table. Ye Ying looked up, tears in her eyes, “My Lord, why? That’s our child, how can you be so cruel…”
“Silence!” Mo Jingli snapped, glaring coldly at Ye Ying, “Useless fool! You didn’t even realize when the child was switched, letting me raise someone else’s brat for seven years!” What? Ye Ying froze, completely unable to comprehend his words. Mo Jingli stared at her coldly, “Still don’t understand? That sickly thing isn’t my son at all – the child was switched right after birth!”
“How… how is that possible?! It can’t be!” Ye Ying cried out. The child she had cared for so carefully for years wasn’t her own? Then where was the child she had given birth to? “My Lord… where… where is our child?” Ye Ying asked anxiously.
Mo Jingli said hatefully, “In Mo Jingqi’s hands!” Hearing this, Ye Ying collapsed powerlessly into a chair. She knew all too well the relationship between Mo Jingli and Mo Jingqi over these years – with their child in Mo Jingqi’s hands, would they ever get him back?
Grabbing Mo Jingli’s robe in panic, Ye Ying wept, “My Lord, save our child, I beg you to save our child. Oh, my poor child…”
Mo Jingli pushed her away in disgust. Of course, he would save the child – he had no choice. Looking coldly at Ye Ying crying by the table, Mo Jingli felt nothing but revulsion for this woman who had once been so delicate and lovely. “From today on, you’ll stay in the back courtyard and not come out. I don’t want to see you again!” Ye Ying was stunned – having just learned her son was in Mo Jingqi’s hands and now being confined by Mo Jingli, how could she bear it?
“Why… why?” Ye Ying stared at Mo Jingli in a daze. She had lost his favor years ago – if not for having a son to rely on, she would have been forgotten in some corner long ago. Their past love and sweetness seemed like nothing but a dream, and now, was she to lose even these last remnants?
Mo Jingli said coldly, “If not for your stupidity, how could I have gone so many years not knowing my son’s whereabouts? Do you know what I’ve lost because of your foolishness? Mother Consort was right about you – truly a stupid and useless woman. Back then, if I hadn’t married you…” Thinking of the elegant woman he’d seen in An City last year, Mo Jingli felt a surge of regret. After all these years, she was still as graceful as an orchid, refined and elegant. If it had been her… if it had been her, this would never have happened.
With a final look at Ye Ying, Mo Jingli left without a backward glance, leaving behind a dazed Ye Ying silently shedding tears. After a long while, muffled sobs finally echoed through the room.