At Mo Jingqi’s request, everyone left the imperial bedchamber, leaving him alone for his final moments. No one knew what this emperor, who had spent his entire life busy yet seemingly accomplished nothing, would think about in his last moments.

Mo Xiuyao carried Mo Xiaobao while holding Ye Li’s hand as they walked beside the Grand Princess and Duke Hua. These two were now the only true elders left in the country. The others followed at a modest distance behind them. At this moment, naturally, no one was in the mood to leave the palace. The emperor’s final edict was still in the Empress’s hands, and with the Grand Princess, Duke Hua, and Prince Ding watching over it, no one could interfere. However, they also couldn’t simply leave with indifference.

The group sat down in a pavilion in the Imperial Garden. The pavilion wasn’t large, so only the Grand Princess, Duke Hua, Mo Xiuyao, and Ye Li could sit inside. Duke Hua smiled as he looked at Mo Xiuyao and then at Mo Xiaobao, who sat on Mo Xiuyao’s knee and appeared to be a clever child. “Prince Ding looks much better these past few years than when he was in the capital.” Mo Xiuyao nodded and smiled, “It’s been several years, but the Duke remains as healthy as ever.” Duke Hua shook his head and sighed, “I’m getting old…”

The pavilion fell silent for a while before Duke Hua finally asked, “What are your plans for the future, Prince Ding?”

Mo Xiuyao was somewhat surprised, raising his eyebrows as he looked at Duke Hua, “You’re not going to try to persuade me?”

Duke Hua shook his head and said with resignation, “Since this situation has already been broken open, what’s the point in repeating past mistakes? Even mending a broken mirror won’t leave it completely flawless. Besides… Da Chu has constrained the Prince Ding Manor for too long. Now that the dragon has taken flight, success or failure is likely beyond anyone’s control. Wouldn’t you agree, Prince Ding?” Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying. Though Duke Hua had spent his life on battlefields, it didn’t mean he didn’t understand politics. While the Prince Ding Manor’s return to Da Chu was certainly the desire of both the common people and many court officials, for the Mo Family Army’s soldiers and the Manor’s subordinate officials, it would be a tremendous blow. Even as the head of the Prince Ding Manor, Mo Xiuyao couldn’t make such a decision without considering his subordinates’ feelings.

Duke Hua waved his hand, “This old man won’t live to see Your Highness’s future glory, but surely with Prince Ding’s abilities and the support of the Princess Consort and many capable people, you won’t disappoint the wishes of the Mo family’s ancestors.” What were the wishes of the Mo family’s ancestors? To unify the realm, pacify all directions, and receive tribute from ten thousand nations. In the history of the Prince Ding Manor, there had been more than one brilliant figure with such capabilities. However, they all fell short due to various reasons, dying with regrets.

“Duke Hua…” the Grand Princess said with some surprise. She knew Duke Hua wouldn’t try to persuade Mo Xiuyao, but hearing his words now, he seemed extremely confident in the future of the Mo Family Army and Prince Ding Manor. It should be noted that… from the current situation, the Prince Ding Manor didn’t hold the advantage.

Duke Hua shook his head and smiled, “Grand Princess, we’re all old now. The future belongs to the young.” The Grand Princess froze, looking at Duke Hua’s white hair and wrinkled face, then at her own wrinkled hands. Indeed… they had grown old, how much longer could they keep going? Let it be…

Mo Jingqi finally died. Whether as a son, brother, father, or ruler, he had failed in all roles. Therefore, in his final moments, he didn’t seek to be surrounded by children and grieving ministers. He drove everyone out and breathed his last breath alone in the empty bedchamber.

When everyone rushed back to the bedchamber after receiving the eunuch’s report, they found Mo Jingqi already dead, lying stiffly on the bed. The upper half of his bedding and clothes were stained dark red with blood, his eyes still open, staring lifelessly at the ornate dragon canopy above. The Grand Princess sighed softly, stepped forward to close his eyes, and said, “Let’s go outside to hear the final edict.”

Heavy bells rang throughout the imperial city, announcing to the world the passing of an emperor.

“By Heaven’s mandate and dynastic fortune, the Emperor declares… The tenth prince Mo Suyun is to be established as Emperor. The Crown Prince’s position is abolished, and he is to be titled Prince Qin. Prince Qin’s birth mother, Noble Consort Liu, is to be buried with the emperor.” The Empress’s voice rang out plainly outside the bedchamber. Amidst the shocked expressions of the crowd, the Empress finally glanced at the Empress Dowager sitting to the side and frowned slightly. The Empress Dowager’s heart sank as she sensed something was wrong, then heard the Empress calmly read the final line, “The Empress Dowager… is to be buried with the late Emperor. So it is decreed.”

“This is impossible!” The Empress Dowager’s face turned ashen as she stood up and shouted, “It was you! You altered the Emperor’s final edict, didn’t you?”

The Empress wasn’t entirely unsurprised by the edict’s contents, but she had long grown accustomed to maintaining a calm expression, so she showed no change. She replied quietly, “The edict was personally handed to me by His Majesty in front of everyone. Since then, I haven’t left anyone’s sight. Please investigate carefully, Empress Dowager.”

Everyone remained silent. Indeed, with so many people and so many eyes watching, how could the Empress, an ordinary woman without martial arts skills, have managed it? Even if she had some special technique, how could she have anticipated that the Emperor would give her the edict and prepare one in advance?

“No… this is impossible! My son wouldn’t do this! This is absurd… since ancient times, when has there ever been an emperor requiring a birth mother to be buried with him?!” The Empress Dowager still refused to believe it. While there indeed had never been such a custom since ancient times, the edict specifically ordered the Empress Dowager to be buried with the late Emperor. Considered this way, it wasn’t entirely discourteous. Meanwhile, Minister Liu of the Liu family had also collapsed to the ground. Not only had his grandson failed to become emperor, but his daughter now had to be buried with the emperor. This sudden shock was too much even for this old politician who had spent a lifetime in court to bear.

As for another key figure, the tenth prince Mo Suyun who would now rule over all under heaven… everyone looked toward the tenth prince who knelt on the ground with a bewildered expression. The tenth prince was only seven years old this year, and his birth mother was merely a palace maid whom Mo Jingqi had favored by chance. After giving birth to Mo Suyun, she didn’t receive any special favor, only being casually granted the title of Imperial Noble Lady. In recent years, this mother and son had lived like ghosts in the palace, almost forgotten by everyone. But now… this bewildered child had received what everyone had been yearning for but failed to grasp.

Mo Xiuyao looked at the timid tenth prince and curved his lips into a meaningful smile. He said quietly, “Since the final edict has been read, the remaining matters no longer concern this prince. This prince will take his leave.” Once again, Prince Ding publicly expressed his lack of interest in Da Chu’s court politics. On the other side, Mo Jingli’s face turned ashen, but his heartfelt slightly relieved as he nodded, “Safe journey, Prince Ding.”

Mo Xiuyao gave him an ambiguous smile, then carried Mo Xiaobao and held Ye Li’s hand as they left the palace. Whatever happened in the palace now had nothing to do with them.

Outside the palace, white cloth had already been hung along both sides of the capital’s streets, and the usual glamour and splendor were now covered in solemn black and white. The Emperor had passed away, and the entire nation was in mourning. Even though this emperor hadn’t necessarily won the people’s hearts, the common people still had to wear mourning clothes, cease music and dancing, and postpone weddings to show their grief for the emperor.

The Prince Ding Manor naturally didn’t have such strict rules. Only the bright red and purple items were taken down, while life in the manor continued as usual. Although they were now in the capital, they could no longer be considered subjects of Da Chu. Instead, like Xi Ling, Bei Rong, and Nan Zhao, they could only be considered guests. Guests naturally didn’t need to follow such strict rules.

After returning to the courtyard and sitting down, Mo Xiuyao was unusually lost in thought. Ye Li sat beside him and asked softly, “What’s wrong, Xiuyao? Are you tired?” Mo Xiuyao shook his head, pulled her tightly into his embrace, took a deep breath, and said, “I’m thinking… did Mo Jingqi die too easily…” According to Mo Xiuyao’s thoughts from several years ago, he absolutely wouldn’t have let Mo Jingqi die so easily. He wanted Mo Jingqi to live, to watch everything he cared about to be lost one by one, to see his empire fall apart, and even to witness Da Chu’s destruction and the palace’s collapse. If not for this, he had a thousand ways to take Mo Jingqi’s life when he learned the truth about his father and brother’s deaths.

Even this time, he had thought about saving Mo Jingqi just to continue torturing him. But in the end, he abandoned this idea.

Ye Li sighed softly and looked up at Mo Xiuyao, asking, “Don’t you think Mo Jingqi died miserably enough?”

Mo Xiuyao lowered his head to think. Before his death, apart from not seeing the country’s destruction and the palace’s fall, Mo Jingqi had already lost everything he could lose. Even regarding Da Chu, by arranging for the tenth prince to succeed him, he probably didn’t hold much hope himself. That’s why he wouldn’t even open his eyes when he died. Thinking of it this way, Mo Jingqi had indeed died quite miserably. Perhaps… the current disappointment was only because Mo Jingqi’s current miserable state didn’t come directly from his hand but merely from his indirect influence.

“We hate those who deserve our hatred and let them receive their deserved punishment. But I don’t want you to let this hatred taint your heart. Death settles all debts; there’s no meaning in hating a dead person. If you’re still not satisfied, I’ll accompany you to the palace to whip Mo Jingqi’s corpse and then cut it into pieces, how about that?” Ye Li said softly.

Mo Xiuyao smiled and hugged Ye Li, saying, “I understand. I won’t think about this matter anymore. Although it’s somewhat regrettable not to have personally avenged my brother. However… someone like Mo Jingqi wasn’t worthy of dirtying this prince’s hands. As the saying goes… heaven’s vengeance can be forgiven, but self-inflicted doom cannot be escaped.”

Ye Li smiled gently, “I’m glad you understand.”

In the following days, the entire capital was naturally in great turmoil. While Mo Jingqi’s coffin still lay in the palace awaiting burial, the imperial clan and court officials were already arguing furiously. The focus of their disputes centered on two matters: first, the matter of the tenth prince’s succession; second, the matter of the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Liu’s burial with the emperor. The Empress Dowager was Prince Li’s birth mother, and Noble Consort Liu was the Crown Prince’s birth mother. Mo Jingqi’s final strike had hit both the Prince Li Manor and the Liu family in their most vital spots. However, compared to the Liu family, Prince Li Manor’s situation was much better.

This was because Mo Jingli was already the Regent Prince. Even if he wasn’t emperor, the young emperor would still have to listen to him before taking personal command. He still had plenty of time to scheme and plan. But the Liu family’s situation was different – the Crown Prince had become Prince Qin, and Noble Consort Liu had to be buried with the emperor. As a result, the Liu family had absolutely no support or backing left in the palace. When the time came, Mo Jingli naturally wouldn’t miss this perfect opportunity to strike at the Liu family. Even though Empress Dowager, like Noble Consort Liu, had to be buried with the emperor, the blow to Mo Jingli wasn’t nearly as severe as it was to the Liu family. This was because Mo Jingli was already a completely independent prince with real power – whether or not he had Empress Dowager’s support wasn’t particularly important to him anymore.

At this moment, the Zhangde Palace was filled with grief. The once-crowded halls were now empty of palace maids and eunuchs. The Empress Dowager sat listlessly in her phoenix chair, her previously well-maintained hair now streaked with white, her entire person haggard and dazed.

Mo Jingli sat to the side silently drinking tea, his expression calm and unruffled. Even the Empress Dowager, his birth mother, could no longer read any emotion in him.

“Li’er… Li’er, what should we do? Qi’er is so heartless… I am his birth mother!” the Empress Dowager murmured. She never imagined Mo Jingqi would leave such an imperial edict. Not only had she failed to continue as Empress Dowager through her younger son’s ascension to the throne, but the edict didn’t even allow her to become Grand Empress Dowager after her grandson’s coronation. She had become the first, and perhaps only, Empress Dowager in history to be ordered by her son to be buried with him. All her former glory and wealth now seemed like passing clouds, and she couldn’t even keep her life.

Since becoming Empress Dowager, she had never been so panicked. Even when Mo Jingli had rebelled in the south, she hadn’t been this frightened. Why… why had everything turned out so differently from what she had expected?

Mo Jingli set down his teacup and looked calmly at the Empress Dowager, “Mother, this is Imperial Brother’s final edict.”

The Empress Dowager froze, taking a long moment to understand Mo Jingli’s meaning. In some ways, a final edict could be more effective than a regular imperial decree. Though an emperor’s word was supposed to be absolute, as long as Mo Jingqi had been alive, she might have found a way to make him revoke his order. But now, Mo Jingqi was dead. His last decree before death became his final edict. To show respect for the late emperor, even the new emperor couldn’t easily overturn his predecessor’s final edict. Mo Jingli was telling her that he was powerless to help.

“No… impossible! I don’t believe it!” The Empress Dowager stumbled forward, grabbing Mo Jingli’s hand, “I am your birth mother, Li’er, please save Mother, Mother doesn’t want to die. I know… I know you have a way!” Mo Jingli shook his head coldly, “Forgive me, Mother, but your son has no solution.”

The Empress Dowager staggered backward two steps, nearly tripping over the chair behind her. She collapsed into the chair, looking at Mo Jingli with disbelief, “Li’er… you truly mean to abandon me? Don’t forget, if I hadn’t tried to persuade the Emperor for your sake, why would he order me to be buried with him?!”

The Empress Dowager had finally understood – this was entirely her son’s revenge. Revenge for her siding with Mo Jingli when he was poisoned, for still trying to persuade the emperor to pass the throne to Mo Jingli when he was critically ill. All of this was because of him…

“But did Mother succeed?” Mo Jingli asked coldly.

“What?” The Empress Dowager was shocked.

“The throne… Mother heard Imperial Brother’s final edict. He passed it to the tenth prince! A mere child this prince has never even met, who understands nothing. Is this the result of your persuasion of Imperial Brother?” Mo Jingli stood up and spoke in a deep voice, growing increasingly angry as he continued, his voice rising, “Not just the matter of the throne, you did nothing about my son’s matter either! Now Mo Jingqi is dead, Mother, tell me, where am I supposed to find my son?”

The Empress Dowager frowned, “Even if Qi’er deceived you, can’t you take more consorts in the future and have more sons?”

Mo Jingli’s face turned ashen. He naturally couldn’t tell the Empress Dowager that he could no longer have children. These past months, he had secretly consulted many famous physicians. On this matter, Mo Jingqi hadn’t lied to him – years ago, he had been given a secret palace formula that caused permanent infertility, with no cure. Therefore, no one knew how important that child had been to him.

“In any case, your son is powerless in this matter. Mother, you must fend for yourself,” Mo Jingli said, brushing off his slightly wrinkled clothes as he turned to leave.

“No…” The Empress Dowager rushed forward to grab the hem of Mo Jingli’s robe, weeping and begging, “Li’er, please save Mother. Mother doesn’t want to die… Li’er… I am your mother, Li’er…” Mo Jingli looked down at the disheveled Empress Dowager before him, coldly removing her hand from his robe. He said quietly, “Mother, even you don’t believe in family bonds in the imperial family anymore, do you? Otherwise… what do you call what you did to Imperial Brother back then?”

The Empress Dowager knelt on the ground, watching helplessly as Mo Jingli decisively walked away without a backward glance. She finally broke down crying and cursing, “Unfilial son! Mo Jingli, you unfilial son! I am your birth mother… I won’t let you off even in the underworld! No… I don’t want to die… I am Da Chu’s Empress Dowager…” The Empress Dowager cried and cursed until she collapsed on the ground, sobbing. She finally understood the meaning behind her elder son’s gaze when she had visited him days ago when she was urging him to pass the throne to Mo Jingli. But it was too late…

“I am the Empress Dowager… I won’t die…”

Outside Zhangde Palace, the Empress Dowager’s cries were sealed behind the many palace gates. Mo Jingli turned back to look at the tightly closed gates, his face dark and his eyes flickering with changing emotions that finally settled into emptiness.

“Your Highness, the Empress Dowager…” the advisor beside him suggested quietly. Given Prince Li and the Empress Dowager’s status, saving the Empress Dowager wasn’t impossible. Mo Jingli replied coldly, “No need. Have people watch the Liu family closely, don’t let them or Noble Consort Liu make any moves. The Crown Prince’s… Prince Qin’s birth mother must die.”

The advisor’s heart trembled – so this was the reason. If they were to save the Empress Dowager, the Liu family would certainly use this to demand that Noble Consort Liu be spared from burial as well. And Prince Li wasn’t planning to let Noble Consort Liu continue living. To strike at the Liu family, Prince Li…

“Your servant accepts the command.”