Xuan Li’s people grew more brazen by the day.

Perhaps realizing that seizing the throne wasn’t as easy as imagined, or perhaps reaching a point of mutual destruction with nothing left to lose, their offensive had become increasingly fierce these past days. Moreover, Xuan Li seemed to have torn away his civilized facade like a starving wolf, gradually revealing his true nature. His methods were extremely brutal—wherever they reached villages or tribes, they forcibly demanded people hand over grain and supplies. The Nanjiang people scattered throughout various regions, accompanying the rebellion, were even more cruel in their methods. Some places even witnessed the atrocity of entire villages being massacred.

Village massacres were actions only undertaken by the most savage and brutal armies invading foreign countries, yet Xuan Li’s people had done exactly this. Though succession struggles had always resulted in millions of corpses, they were generally internal court conflicts quite removed from common people’s lives. At most, ordinary folk would curse a few times upon seeing a different person ascend the throne. But being truly involved in such affairs and losing their lives because of it was unprecedented in the Great Jin Dynasty’s history.

Xuan Li’s actions were no longer a prince’s struggle for succession. With the involvement of Nanjiang people, it had become naked, unscrupulous usurpation displayed for all to see. For a time, the Great Jin Dynasty’s people were filled with resentment, and Xuan Li’s reputation had become that of a rat crossing the street—everyone wanted to beat him.

“He’s the most arrogant and proud person, so naturally he feels terrible being reduced to such a state,” Ming Yue said to the emperor seated high above.

The young—no, it could only be called youthful—Son of Heaven sat casually askew on the dragon throne. His posture wasn’t particularly proper, carrying instead a somewhat mischievous casualness, yet even so, he wasn’t to be underestimated. Xuan Pei lazily played with the white jade thumb ring in his hand, smiling: “This is the path he chose for himself—he can’t blame Us.”

It was like a young lion catching a small mouse, somewhat watching a show as it toyed with the little mouse in its palm, watching it struggle within.

Ming Yue lowered her head. She was no longer a prince’s personal palace maid now. Xiao Shao didn’t seem inclined to reclaim her, and Xuan Pei couldn’t do without her either, since having her handle many matters was much more reassuring. She had become Aunt Ming Yue, her status rising accordingly. Outsiders all envied her good fortune in following the right master—who could have known that the former waste prince would have such a glorious day, leaping to become master of the realm. But only Ming Yue knew that from the first day she followed Xuan Pei, she understood he was far more complex than he appeared on the surface. This youth’s actions served the same purpose as Xuan Li’s, only back then Xuan Li’s power was too strong, while Xuan Pei, assuming the posture of the weak, forcibly snatched the fat meat of empire from Xuan Li’s very mouth.

Even she hadn’t expected then that Xuan Pei would be the final victor, yet he had achieved it.

She said: “Consort Mu requests an audience outside.”

“Bring her in,” Xuan Pei said.

When Mu Xirou was brought in, her face no longer bore its former ice-cold expression. Her beauty remained, but something had changed in her brows and eyes—upon closer inspection, it seemed to be peaceful resignation. That formerly inviolable, stern aura had completely vanished, making her no different from any ordinary beauty in the palace.

She walked in, and upon seeing Xuan Li, said nothing more. Her legs gave way as she knelt before Xuan Li: “Thank Your Majesty for your fulfillment.”

After being released from prison, her crimes couldn’t be completely cleared, and with no power behind her, she had been under house arrest. Without knowing the outside situation, she quickly changed her address based solely on Xuan Pei’s dragon robes, showing this was indeed a clever woman.

Xuan Pei said: “This is the result you sought yourself.”

The Mu family had ultimately supported Xuan Li at the crucial moment of succession struggle, perhaps because they felt Xuan Pei was just a young hothead with no real prospects. Perhaps they found no value in Xuan Pei’s side, lacking the clearly marked prices that Xuan Li’s side offered for peace of mind. The Mu family ultimately disregarded their daughter sent to the palace, turning instead to Xuan Li’s faction. Now, following Xuan Li in armed rebellion, they had clearly treated Mu Xirou in the palace as an abandoned piece.

“When Father sent me to the palace, it was for high office and rich rewards. Unfortunately, I never fulfilled his wishes. Disappointed, he sought his own path. Now I have no connection with him. Having sought benevolence and achieved benevolence, Your Majesty has shown me grace—everything concerning the Mu family has nothing to do with me,” Mu Xirou said.

Ming Yue listened from the side, her expression showing no ripples.

When the Mu family wanted to send this beautiful ice beauty to the palace, Mu Xirou herself had disagreed. This matter wasn’t difficult to investigate if one had the heart to inquire. Mu Xirou had a fierce temperament, but such a fierce temperament had ultimately, for unknown reasons, agreed to enter the palace.

Everyone in this world had a price and something they wanted. Having exposed such a great weakness, how could Xuan Pei not exploit it? That very day he had Ming Yue investigate the reason, and the cause was quite shocking—it was actually a Mu family secret.

Mu Xirou wasn’t Master Mu’s biological daughter, but rather the child of Master Mu’s mistress who had cuckolded Master Mu outside. Master Mu didn’t know, raising Mu Xirou for ten years before learning the truth. He originally wanted to find an opportunity to dispose of Mu Xirou, but ultimately some colleague reminded him that since Mu Xirou was so beautiful, it would be better to exchange her for a good price in official advancement later.

There are no walls that don’t leak wind, especially in official household rear courts which were full of disputes. Mu Xirou was originally born to a mistress, so the legitimate wives’ and concubines’ daughters looked down on her. Later, learning she wasn’t even biological, they all mocked and ridiculed her. Mu Xirou knew from a young age that she wasn’t Master Mu’s biological child. Master Mu had an eldest son, Mu Feng, who was the person who treated Mu Xirou best in the entire manor. He was gentle and considerate, and Mu Xirou fell in love with this brother who was brother in name only.

This was a scandal, was incest. Mu Xirou didn’t dare tell anyone. That day when entering the palace, Master Mu told her that the portrait had already been sent up. If Mu Xirou refused or even committed suicide, the entire Mu manor would be ruined, and the young, promising Mu Feng would also have his future destroyed because of Mu Xirou’s actions.

Mu Xirou’s life in the Mu family wasn’t good—how could it be? She wished she could perish together with the entire Mu family, but Mu Feng was someone she couldn’t let go of. So for her beloved, she resignedly entered the palace. But Mu Xirou was fundamentally someone extremely strong and unyielding. Even if she loved Mu Feng, she hated Master Mu and the heartless Mu family members. She made a deal with Xuan Pei.

Xuan Pei wanted the empire. As long as Xuan Pei someday sat on the throne, he would return her freedom and suppress the Mu family members, preferably never employing them again except for Mu Feng.

Xuan Pei agreed, so Mu Xirou maintained her cold demeanor, pretending she had no choice but to accept her fate. Master Mu wasn’t pleased with this, because Mu Xirou didn’t curry favor with the emperor. She considered herself noble but gained no man’s favor—she was essentially a useless piece.

So when Mu Xirou was imprisoned on charges of attempting to murder the emperor, not a single Mu family member spoke up for her. When Dong Ying’er was imprisoned, the Dong family still inquired about her. When Wang Lian’er had problems, the Wang family also came forward to smooth things over. Only the Mu family unhesitatingly distanced themselves, avoiding her like plague, which even made Ming Yue feel somewhat chilled watching.

Xuan Pei looked at Mu Xirou and said: “We now give you a chance—you may modify your conditions.”

After the Mu family rebelled, Mu Xirou knew the Mu family members would never survive this time, but she still loved Mu Feng. She was willing to exchange her own life and freedom for Mu Feng’s life. Making deals with Xuan Pei wasn’t simple, but Mu Xirou still wanted to try.

Ming Yue didn’t know why, but she always felt Xuan Pei was particularly merciful and caring toward Mu Xirou, as if giving her many opportunities. Ming Yue had witnessed how ruthless Xuan Pei’s heart and methods could be. Being good to Mu Xirou must have some special reason.

“Thank Your Majesty for your fulfillment, but it’s unnecessary,” Mu Xirou said. “I only hope Your Majesty will spare my eldest brother’s life.”

“We are not unreasonable,” Xuan Pei smiled. “You’ve done so much for Us—Our deal still counts. But think carefully: since you entered the palace, has that dear elder brother of yours ever once come to the palace to visit you? When the Mu family rebelled, he couldn’t possibly not know. Knowing you were still in the palace, he didn’t rescue you. Knowing leaving you behind would inevitably make you a scapegoat, he still had no intention of saving you. Mu Xirou, We can tell you that in your eyes, perhaps the entire Mu family is evil with only him being kind, but unfortunately, in Our eyes, he and the Mu family are birds of a feather. The kindness you see in him is merely the kindness he wanted you to see.”

Mu Xirou was clever. She didn’t directly argue with Xuan Li, only stared quietly at the ground to express her persistence. Xuan Pei thought for a moment, then smiled: “Forget it. Even if We told you a thousand times you wouldn’t understand—better to let you see him in person.”

Mu Xirou suddenly raised her head. Xuan Pei gave Ming Yue a look. Ming Yue walked to Mu Xirou’s side, quickly pressing her acupoints, and escorted her behind a screen, supporting her as she stood to one side. Soon, someone brought a man into the hall under guard.

That person was none other than Mu Feng.

“Young Master Mu,” Xuan Pei still had that playful tone, smiling: “It’s been a long time.”

Mu Feng was among the promising young officials in court. Such young people, having potentially unlimited futures ahead, were considered very important by everyone even if they seemed insignificant now. Xuan Pei had encountered this man before, but in Mu Feng’s eyes, Xuan Pei probably wasn’t worth surrendering to—a wet-behind-the-ears brat whom Mu Feng wouldn’t take seriously.

But now Mu Feng had become a prisoner, while Xuan Pei had transformed from a waste prince to one above all others. He raised his head to look at the youth on that seat, whose bearing was extraordinary. Not only was he not overwhelmed by the dragon robes, but the robes made him appear unfathomably deep. Being captured today meant he would never again have a chance to rise to prominence in this lifetime.

“Don’t worry—We summoned you today only to ask about one matter. We hear you and Consort Mu have an excellent relationship?” Xuan Pei asked.

Mu Feng was first stunned, then seemed to think of something, a smile appearing on his face: “Oh, that woman—that woman is a bastard child. I heard she later became Your Highness’s person. I didn’t expect Your Highness, despite your youth, to have such an intimate companion. That’s right, she was devoted to me, but our Mu family never accepts bastards. Such a woman of questionable origins is only good for playing with. Originally sending her to the palace was looking favorably upon her, letting her be a chess piece. Who knew this slut would collude with outsiders—truly has her mother’s style, a whore!” He spat on the ground.

This Mu Feng was quite a character. Knowing he couldn’t escape death, he simply didn’t bother with pleas for mercy. Thinking this young emperor had an affair with Mu Xirou, he deliberately spoke crudely to disgust him. So he intentionally spoke vulgarly, though it was also truthful.

Xuan Pei showed no particular expression, even maintaining a slight smile. Behind the screen, Mu Xirou was immobilized by Ming Yue’s acupoint technique, but her eyes were wide open, hot tears falling in large drops from her eyes. Ming Yue sighed inwardly. This woman was usually cold as ice, but now showed such a heartbroken expression—she must be deeply hurt. After all, what had supported her life in such a cold place as the palace all along was Mu Feng. Now learning she was less than grass in Mu Feng’s eyes, all her support collapsed overnight—naturally she couldn’t bear it.

“Oh, so you treated her as a whore, but she was very good to you,” Xuan Pei said puzzledly. “How strange. We originally thought to spare your life for her sake, but now it seems you wouldn’t appreciate it either.” He clapped his hands. Ming Yue released Mu Xirou’s acupoints. Mu Xirou quickly wiped the tears from her face. Her hands were still trembling, but she forcibly pinched her palm, and her expression immediately became cold again.

She walked out.

Mu Feng was stunned. Ming Yue followed her out. Mu Xirou knew this was deliberately shown to her by Xuan Pei. She didn’t understand what Xuan Pei meant by this. If she hadn’t known all this, she probably could have continued as before, harboring beautiful hopes to let Mu Feng live. But having learned the truth, with her nature of clear love and hate, she could only treat Mu Feng as an enemy.

No woman would lack hatred for a man who only used her, even if she had loved him.

She smiled coldly, like an ice lotus blooming with a kind of cold beauty, saying: “Then I truly thank elder brother for treating me so well.”

Mu Feng was stunned. Seeing Mu Xirou in that instant, he actually felt somewhat afraid. This woman’s adoration for him was something he had known about long ago, so he had exploited her adoring heart. Mu Xirou’s status in the Mu manor was low—just being slightly kind to her would make her devoted unto death. Mu Feng had always been using her, whether making her enter the palace or gain the emperor’s favor—it was all exploitation. A chess piece for exploitation—he had never taken her seriously. Now seeing Mu Xirou appear, those eyes seemed devoid of emotion, yet their strangeness suddenly made him somewhat afraid.

“Consort Mu,” Xuan Pei smiled lazily, “We once promised you one wish. Now speak—do you want to release your elder brother?”

Mu Feng’s heart jumped. He didn’t believe Xuan Pei would be so kind as to release him, but formerly, Mu Xirou would have fought with all her strength to protect him. Now though… his heart felt uneasy.

“Your Majesty is merciful, but how could this subject presume to interfere with state affairs? Using the promise this subject once obtained from Your Majesty’s lips, this subject hopes Your Majesty will agree to one matter,” Mu Xirou said.

“Speak.”

“The Mu family followed the rebel prince in rebellion and should be unpardonably guilty, deserving extermination of nine generations. But this subject knows the Mu family’s eldest son is extremely important to the Mu family. Rather than use him as bait, hang him under the city gate to die slowly. If the Mu family comes to rescue him, they can be caught in one net. If the Mu family doesn’t rescue him, it serves to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys. As for the entire Mu manor’s household, having committed heinous crimes, they should all, old and young, receive the punishment of ten thousand arrows piercing the heart and death by a thousand cuts,” Mu Xirou said word by word.

Mu Feng drew in a sharp breath, never expecting such words to come from Mu Xirou’s mouth. He knew the Mu family treated Mu Xirou badly, but Mu Xirou had ultimately entered the palace for the Mu family’s sake—why would she now speak such venomous words? Being slowly hanged to death at the city gate was chilling just to think about, and she wanted to use this to catch the entire Mu family in one net. This woman—what a vicious heart!

“Consort Mu is truly wise—no wonder Father Emperor favored you most back then,” Xuan Pei praised. “We also think it’s excellent. We’ll draft the edict immediately and do as you suggest.”

Mu Feng felt a chill down his spine. He said: “Sister, sister, have you forgotten how brother treated you before? When you were bullied, it was brother who protected you. Those were just angry words earlier—you wouldn’t be so heartless, would you? Sister!”

Mu Xirou looked at him coldly, a glimmer seeming to flash quickly in her eyes, but soon only cold indifference remained: “Young Master Mu, I have no brother. I was born in a mountain village, parents unknown. Who is your sister? Perhaps she died long ago.”

Xuan Pei commanded sternly: “Take him away!” Mu Feng was dragged away screaming.

The hall returned to silence. Mu Xirou knelt down again. Her expression was completely calm, but her palms had begun seeping blood.

She said: “This subject requests Your Majesty’s permission to become a nun and spend the rest of my life with green lamps and ancient Buddhas.”

Xuan Pei looked at her deeply and said: “Granted.”

Mu Xirou kowtowed in thanks before leaving. After Mu Xirou left, Ming Yue couldn’t help asking Xuan Pei: “Why did Your Majesty do that?”

Making Mu Xirou personally witness that the brother and lover she was proud of was actually such a person, allowing her to keep her life but lose the courage to live on, becoming disheartened with life. Ming Yue had thought Xuan Pei felt differently about Mu Xirou, which was why he cared for her so much. But looking at it this way, it seemed he was simply making Mu Xirou clear-headed, regardless of the possible consequences. Why?

Why? Xuan Li said flatly: “She’ll figure it out eventually.”

Better short-term pain than long-term pain. Mu Xirou’s experience always reminded him of another person—that person didn’t have Mu Xirou’s good temper in this life. The fate of being used as a chess piece ultimately cost that person their life. Whenever he saw Mu Xirou, it was like seeing that person. Even if it was attention drawn by similar experiences, he wouldn’t let certain things happen again.

Some fools need only do it once. Some people need only be misjudged once.