The assembled court officials couldn’t help but exchange glances. To issue an edict immediately upon starting court without discussing anything meant the Emperor had no intention of consulting them—they were merely here to listen. After a moment’s surprise, someone quickly responded, “We humbly await Your Majesty’s holy decree.”
Once someone had responded, others couldn’t voice any objections. The court knelt and respectfully said: “We humbly await Your Majesty’s holy decree.”
The Chief Eunuch beside Mo Jingqi unfolded the edict, his hands trembling slightly. He hesitated before beginning to read, but Mo Jingqi’s cold gaze had already fallen upon him before he could react. The eunuch’s heart jumped, and he hurriedly began reading loudly: “By Heaven’s mandate, the Emperor decrees: With Our meager virtue, We inherited this great foundation nineteen years ago. Since taking personal control of the government, channels of honest counsel have been blocked, flattery fills Our ears daily, sycophants wield power, and corrupt officials prosper. We listened to slander and placed the Ding Wang Manor in danger, wrongly harming the loyal and worthy… We have no words to face Our ancestors…”
As the eunuch read the lengthy edict fluently, those listening below all changed expression. This was no ordinary decree—it was an Edict of Self-Blame. And those references to sycophants wielding power and corrupt officials prospering—if these were true, what did that make all of them in the hall? When the edict mentioned the Ding Wang Manor affair, everyone drew in a sharp breath. The Emperor was personally admitting his involvement in the Ding Wang Manor incident and issuing an Edict of Self-Blame to acknowledge his wrongdoing. Though this matter had become common knowledge years ago, with commoners discussing it freely, having the Emperor personally admit it in an edict was something else entirely.
After the eunuch finally finished reading, everyone let out a long breath, then quickly held it again, knowing today’s matters wouldn’t end so easily.
Mo Jingqi had been resting with his eyes closed, only lifting his head when the eunuch finished reading the Edict of Self-Blame and awaited his instructions: “Distribute it. Additionally, by imperial decree: Restore the titles of Ding Wang Mo Xiuyao as Prince of the First Rank and Ye Li as Princess Consort of the First Rank, install the Ding Wang heir Mo Yuzhen as Crown Prince of the Ding Wang Manor and confer upon him the title of Prince Xiang. Remove the seal on the Ding Wang Manor and return all its properties to the capital.”
“Yes, this slave obeys,” the eunuch holding the edict responded with trembling hands.
Mo Jingqi thought for a moment and said: “Have the Sixth Prince deliver the edict.”
“Yes, this slave takes his leave.”
Watching the eunuch leave with the edict, those below finally realized the Emperor wasn’t merely putting on a show—he truly intended to publish the Edict of Self-Blame to the world, even overlooking how years ago Prince Ding had declared independence from Da Chu and had been maintaining military power in the northwest these years. At this point, anyone who couldn’t understand the Emperor’s intentions would have lived their life in vain.
“Royal Brother! This must not be done!” Mo Jingxu stepped forward, speaking loudly. In his heart, he deeply regretted not anticipating Mo Jingqi’s move and preventing it. At this moment, before the entire court, even as Regent Prince, he had no authority to recall the edict without Mo Jingqi’s consent.
Mo Jingqi looked down at him from above, raising an eyebrow slightly. “Oh? Why not?”
Mo Jingxu said: “This edict greatly damages the face of our Da Chu royal family. How will the world view the royal family and Your Majesty? Please reconsider, Royal Brother.”
A satisfied gleam flashed in Mo Jingqi’s eyes as he said: “No need to reconsider. I have issued an Edict of Self-Blame—the fault is naturally Mine alone. It has nothing to do with the royal family or future imperial descendants. Besides… I only have a few days left to live. Surely the empire’s subjects will see My sincere regret and remorse.”
“But…” Mo Jingxu, unwilling to give up, tried to continue.
Mo Jingqi waved his hand: “No buts. Past events were indeed My fault. Now I only hope that Prince Ding, seeing that I won’t live much longer, will assist My descendants well and stabilize Da Chu’s foundation.” With these words, everyone understood—the Emperor had no intention of passing the throne to Prince Li. Even bringing the Ding Wang Manor back at this time was largely to counter Prince Li.
The officials allied with Prince Li’s faction were naturally disappointed, but Chancellor Liu wasn’t particularly pleased either. Having served as an official for decades across two reigns, Chancellor Liu’s instincts in certain matters naturally exceeded most others. Earlier, the Emperor had said “descendants” rather than “Crown Prince”—though this seemed to make no difference, careful consideration revealed they were worlds apart. A Crown Prince might not become an imperial descendant, while an imperial descendant could become an Emperor even without being a Crown Prince. Thinking of yesterday’s news that Noble Consort Liu had been denied an audience with the Emperor, Chancellor Liu couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
Seeing the officials’ varying expressions as they held back their words, Mo Jingqi’s lips curved into an extremely faint cold smile. He said calmly: “Enough, we’ll discuss this matter no further. I haven’t attended court for some time—tell Me about the war in the northern territories.”
Though Mo Jingqi had been ill for long, now that he could rise, his authority remained. When the Emperor commanded them to speak, they naturally couldn’t refuse. Thus, the morning court continued for over two hours. By the time the officials, their legs weak from standing, finally left Qinzheng Hall, the edict had long since left the palace.
As soon as the court ended, Mo Jingxu stormed out of Qinzheng Hall with a dark expression. Chancellor Liu, following behind him, looked equally displeased. He was already advanced in years and had stood for nearly three hours—only the retired elderly officials had been granted seats by Mo Jingqi, while those still serving, regardless of age, had to stand—he was swaying as he walked. Those beside him hurried to support him: “Chancellor, shall we return to your residence?”
Chancellor Liu pushed away those supporting him and said in a deep voice: “Go see the Noble Consort and Crown Prince.” He had to understand why the Emperor’s intentions had changed so quickly. And the Sixth Prince… the Sixth Prince…
At the Inn
Being late winter, the small courtyard still held a desolate chill. The edict-bearing eunuch and the nine-year-old Sixth Prince Mo Ruiyun stood trembling in the courtyard. The Sixth Prince had started respectful, but after standing for over a quarter-hour while Prince Ding sat on a wide couch holding a black-clothed boy, joking around without even glancing at them, Mo Ruiyun, raised in the palace and spoiled by Mo Jingqi to the point of not knowing his place, gradually grew impatient.
“Hey! Father Emperor sent this prince to deliver the imperial edict, yet you dare not receive it!” Mo Ruiyun said.
At these words, the eunuch standing behind him collapsed to the ground in terror, repeatedly kowtowing to Mo Xiuyao: “Forgive us, Your Highness, please forgive us!” Mo Ruiyun looked back at the eunuch and snorted disdainfully. Such a coward, and he was supposed to be one of Father Emperor’s most capable eunuchs.
Raised to be willfully ignorant since childhood, Mo Ruiyun didn’t know that even his mother would likely be frightened to her knees, kowtowing if she were here.
His reaction did spark some interest from Mo Xiuyao, who raised his head to look at him and said coolly: “So this is who Mo Jingqi chose?”
The edict-bearing eunuch wore a bitter expression and dared not answer. How was the Sixth Prince chosen by His Majesty? This was a choice made when there was no choice. The Sixth Prince had been spoiled by His Majesty since childhood, and with his birth mother’s lowly status unable to intervene, the palace people had raised him so that even at nine years old, he had less sense than a four or five-year-old child.
Mo Ruiyun said proudly: “That’s right, this prince is the Sixth Prince. Now that you know, shouldn’t you come to pay your respects?”
“Pfft…” Little Mo Bao, lying on Mo Xiuyao’s leg, opened his eyes wide to look at this strange prince who seemed to have his eyes on top of his head. Did he not fear Father Prince at all? Mo Xiuyao smiled and patted Little Mo Bao’s head. “What are you laughing at?” Little Mo Bao blinked his big eyes: “Is Father Prince going to pay respects to the prince?”
“Your father hasn’t even paid respects to the Emperor, why would he pay respects to a prince?” Mo Xiuyao smiled.
Little Mo Bao contentedly narrowed his eyes, lying on Mo Xiuyao’s thigh to sunbathe: “That’s good, I don’t want to pay respects to the prince either.” If his father had to pay respects to a prince, wouldn’t that mean he would have to pay respects to this foolish prince too? That would be too beneath him. Mo Xiuyao lowered his head and pinched his son’s little cheek: “Not wanting to pay respects is simple—as long as you can make others pay respects to you, naturally you won’t need to pay respects to others.” Little Mo Bao snorted disdainfully, “Young Master naturally has that ability.”
“Young Master?” Mo Xiuyao grinned wickedly, his hand mercilessly pinching Little Mo Bao’s bottom where Ye Li couldn’t see.
“Ah ah… how unfair! Mother, Father Prince is bullying me…” Little Mo Bao squirmed in Mo Xiuyao’s arms. Mo Xiuyao laughed: “I just taught you this—if you don’t want to be bullied, you need to have the ability yourself. Before you have that ability, just quietly let Father Prince bully you. Tattling has no future.”
“Wuwu…” Little Mo Bao looked pitifully at his mother who was watching the show. Ye Li smiled and shrugged, indicating she couldn’t help. Young Master Mo was quite perceptive and immediately put on an ingratiating face to Mo Xiuyao: “Father Prince, son was wrong. Please spare me…”
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and looked at Ye Li: “When did this little one learn to be so adaptable?”
Ye Li smiled faintly: “He’s always been adaptable.” This was true—except with his father, Little Mo Bao rarely let pride get in the way of avoiding suffering. Firstly because he couldn’t bring himself to lose face, and secondly because he was certain his father wouldn’t do anything to him. Now it seemed even the face issue had been resolved. Therefore, Young Master Mo could be invincible from now on.
On the side, Mo Ruiyun watched this warm, harmonious scene with great discomfort. The Sixth Prince had also grown up cherished in the palace, with Mo Jingqi’s love for him even exceeding that shown to the two Crown Prince brothers, who had become somewhat withdrawn due to Noble Consort Liu’s coldness. Even so, Mo Ruiyun never dared to act so unruly before his imperial father. Watching this five or six-year-old boy lying in the handsome white-haired Prince Ding’s arms making a fuss, Mo Ruiyun felt something strange spreading in his heart. Even Little Mo Bao’s smile began to seem particularly glaring.
The kneeling eunuch, while Mo Xiuyao played with Little Mo Bao without paying attention, saw Mo Ruiyun’s expression. He couldn’t help but inwardly lament. These people before them weren’t ones a mere Sixth Prince could afford to offend. If they angered Prince Ding, forget about His Majesty wanting Prince Ding to support you—you might not even keep your life.
“So this is the quality of education in the Ding Wang Manor?!” Mo Ruiyun finally fulfilled the attendants’ worries, staring at Little Mo Bao and suddenly blurting out.
At these words, the previously smiling trio fell silent. Ye Li frowned slightly, looking at Mo Ruiyun: “The quality of the Ding Wang Manor’s education hardly needs the Sixth Prince’s judgment. Please leave—our place is small and cannot accommodate your noble status.” Ye Li was truly angered. Mo Ruiyun’s words not only criticized Little Mo Bao but accused the entire Ding Wang Manor and everyone who had taught him. As for his reason for speaking thus, Ye Li could see clearly. It wasn’t because of any grievance with the Ding Wang Manor, but merely because he envied Little Mo Bao. For a prince who had received endless love since childhood to speak ill of others out of mere jealousy—such character was enough to make one dislike him.
“This prince spoke no wrong!” Unexpectedly faced with Ye Li’s immediate dismissal, Mo Ruiyun became unhappy. Though his mother wasn’t favored in the palace, his father’s love for him meant that even the children of the favored Noble Consort Liu had to yield to him somewhat.
“Our son’s upbringing is for us parents to worry about. May I ask in what capacity the Sixth Prince is concerning himself with this matter?” Ye Li asked calmly.
Mo Ruiyun was left speechless, only glaring fiercely at Little Mo Bao. But Little Mo Bao wasn’t willing to jump out and contend with him at this moment, which would only make him appear truly ill-bred. He proudly snorted and hid in Mo Xiuyao’s arms: “Father Prince, son was wrong. Son will properly learn etiquette from Grandfather when we return.”
Mo Xiuyao gave him a meaningful look and said to Zhuo Jing and the other attendants: “Please escort the Sixth Prince back.”
Zhuo Jing waved his hand and naturally had guards come forward to see the guest out. The eunuch still holding the imperial edict remembered his duty and hurriedly said: “Prince Ding… this… this is His Majesty’s edict…”
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow: “What does the Chu Emperor’s edict have to do with this prince? Take it back. Tell Mo Jingqi his judgment… is indeed not bad.”
The edict-bearing eunuch knew nothing could be done and had to put away the edict: “His Majesty has already ordered the unsealing of the Ding Wang Manor and the return of all its sealed properties in the capital to Your Highness. This inn is humble—please return to the prince’s manor to rest, to avoid discomfort for the Princess Consort and Crown Prince.” Mo Xiuyao smiled at the eunuch: “You speak well. Go back and tell Mo Jingqi I accept this courtesy.”
Having accomplished at least one thing, the eunuch felt relieved and respectfully took his leave.
After sending away the large group, Ye Li frowned: “What is Mo Jingqi’s intention now? Is this the show you spoke of?”
Mo Xiuyao smiled: “Isn’t it a good show? I’ve always said Mo Jingqi is… mercurial, typically turning against others without mercy. He’s favored Noble Consort Liu for so many years, defying the Empress Dowager and ignoring the Empress for her sake. If not for wanting to maintain some face, he might have favored a concubine to the point of destroying his wife. Just so, now that he’s near death and suddenly learned of Noble Consort Liu’s actions, whether true or false, he will blame her, and if he thinks further, may even hate her to the bone. After yesterday’s provocation from the Empress Dowager and me, he won’t care about Da Chu’s future now. As long as he can take revenge on Mo Jingxu, his mother, and the Liu family, what wouldn’t he do?”
“You mean Mo Jingqi has completely lost his rationality?” Ye Li frowned.
“Not completely lost rationality—he’s been half-mad his whole life anyway. He doesn’t hate the Ding Wang Manor; he only acted against us originally because he feared we would threaten his throne. But now… he’s dying, and we’re no threat to his throne, while his mother, brother, and closest companion each plot against him more hatefully than the last. Compared to me, he will only hate them. At this point, forget about merely the Ding Wang Manor—even if this prince wanted to be Regent, he would agree. He’s been blinded by hatred, thinking only of revenge,” Mo Xiuyao said coolly.
Ye Li pondered for a moment, finding Mo Xiuyao’s words true. Mo Jingqi’s personality was unsuited for being emperor. He was too sensitive and suspicious, and his wisdom was merely mediocre. It was precisely because he knew his mediocrity that he became more insecure, and once he held power, he easily went to extremes. Take the Ding Wang Manor incident—though the royal family’s desire to reduce the Manor’s power certainly didn’t start in these two generations, none of the many emperors had acted as brutally as he did. Perhaps it was because of his unexpected actions that he nearly succeeded. Fortunately, heaven did not abandon the Ding Wang Manor—one could only say it was heaven’s will. In short, Mo Jingqi was someone very unskilled at balance, while an emperor’s most important quality was understanding the way of balance.
“You knew it would be like this all along?”
Mo Xiuyao smiled: “After dealing with him for so many years, this prince understands him somewhat. Unfortunately… even though the Ding Wang Manor has served Da Chu for generations, this time I absolutely won’t agree to his wishes. His calculations will come to nothing.”
“Why?” Ye Li raised an eyebrow. Though Mo Jingqi’s move was chaotic, it wasn’t necessarily foolish. With this Edict of Self-Blame issued, if Mo Jingqi then died, the Ding Wang Manor’s refusal would only invite public criticism. It wasn’t that common people couldn’t distinguish right from wrong, but that people placed too much weight on such edicts. Throughout history, unless survival was at stake, there were almost no problems an Edict of Self-Blame couldn’t resolve. No matter what an emperor did, once such an edict was issued, he could gain the people’s forgiveness. After all, the concept of loyalty to the emperor had always lingered in every commoner’s heart and mind.
Mo Xiuyao sighed softly, looking down at Little Mo Bao who had fallen asleep in his arms. After the earlier commotion, Little Mo Bao had dozed off listening to his parents talk for less than a quarter hour, with clear drool at the corner of his small mouth.
“This little one appears well-behaved, but he’s full of confidence and pride, even more prideful than I was as a child. I fear when he grows up, he won’t be one to lower himself before others. Moreover, now that the Ding Wang Manor has broken free from Da Chu’s cage, his future will depend on himself. How could I, as his father, personally lock him back in? After these years’ events, everyone will harbor some resentment. It would only lead to a replay of the Ding Wang Manor’s troubles of these many years.”
Ye Li understood his meaning. Even if the royal family kept their word, and in this generation, Mo Xiuyao held great power and the Ding Wang Manor enjoyed unparalleled wealth, their descendants would again face the same deadlock they had experienced or worse.
“No matter what others think, Little Bao and I will always be by your side,” Ye Li said softly.
“I know. We will always be together.”