Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li returned to Li City with their entourage, traveling at a measured pace due to her pregnancy, showing no signs of anxiety despite the Mo family army’s ongoing battle with the Northern Rong at Western Ling.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Mo Jingli, who was in a standoff with the Stabilizing South King, also received news from Li City. In the palace that had been extensively renovated from the original Li Wang Manor, Mo Jingli’s face darkened as he read the newly presented memorial. Although the current Chu Palace was expanded from the original Li Wang Manor, the renovation had begun when Mo Jingli and Mo Jingqi had their falling out, and after all these years, the results were considerable. When the Chu court hastily relocated south of the Yunlan River, surprisingly little chaos ensued, and the small Chu court led by Mo Jingli maintained its stability. However, the court that now resided in the south could hardly be called “great” anymore—at best, it could only be called Southern Chu.
In the great hall sat the young emperor, only six or seven years old, timid and naive. Beside him, on a chair almost as magnificent as the dragon throne itself, sat the Regent Prince Mo Jingli, whose power now dominated the region. Seeing Mo Jingli’s dark expression, the officials below dared not speak. Now the entire region south of the river was completely under Li Wang’s domain, and those dependent on others must always show deference. Moreover, the truly principled civil and military officials had chosen to die rather than leave the faltering imperial capital, so how could one expect these remaining officials to have the courage to stand against Li Wang?
Though the Grand Empress Dowager still held some power, she had gradually weakened since the relocation of the capital. The Empress Dowager’s courage barely exceeded that of the six-year-old emperor. Everyone secretly understood that before long, the young emperor would likely be forced to abdicate, and the Great Chu would have a new emperor.
Mo Jingli looked down from his high position, sweeping his gaze across the crowd below before letting out a cold laugh. “Would you like to know what this says?”
The crowd was startled, secretly exchanging glances. His words seemed rather strange.
Mo Jingli paid no mind, lightly tapping the memorial in his hand. “After Mo Xiuyao took the Western Ling imperial city, he renamed it Anping City. Now Mo Xiuyao has left Western Ling and returned to the northwest.”
Hearing this, the assembled ministers showed various expressions, exchanging views with their close colleagues through eye contact. Mo Jingli impatiently said, “If you have something to say, just say it!”
After a while, one minister stepped forward and bowed, reporting, “Your Highness, now that the Stabilizing King has returned to the northwest, does this mean… the Mo family army might send troops to rescue the imperial capital? If so…”
Mo Jingli let out a contemptuous sneer, looking at him with a mocking smile. “If so, then what? Don’t tell me you’re still hoping to return to the imperial capital. Let’s not even mention… Lei Zhenting is blocking the opposite bank. Even if we reclaimed the imperial capital, what then? With the Northern Rong, northern border, and Western Ling surrounding us, how is the imperial capital any different from an isolated city? Moreover… do you think the imperial capital Mo Xiuyao would save would belong to the imperial family or the Stabilizing King’s manor?”
“This… Your Highness’s insight is profound. This humble official was mistaken.” The minister’s face changed slightly as he dejectedly retreated into line.
Mo Jingli looked at everyone indifferently. “You needn’t be too disappointed. Even if Mo Xiuyao intends to reinforce the imperial capital, he probably won’t make it in time. There are still several hundred thousand Northern Rong cavalry and two hundred thousand Western Ling troops stationed outside Flying Swan Pass.”
“Your Highness, what about the Western Ling Stabilizing South King…”
Mo Jingli said disdainfully, “Western Ling’s troops are not skilled in naval warfare. The Yunlan River is like an insurmountable barrier to them. Order the soldiers along the river to guard it well for me. The day will come when I make Lei Zhenting lose face!”
Everyone immediately understood—Li Wang planned to maintain his position in the southeast, using the natural barrier of the Yunlan River to control this wealthy region. He had no intention of launching a northern campaign to restore the empire anytime soon. After their initial disappointment came a sense of bewilderment. They had been unwilling to face war in the imperial capital and had followed the Li Wang in moving the court south, consoling themselves that they would rise again later. But now… perhaps this was how things would remain for the rest of their lives?
Seeing there was nothing left to discuss, Mo Jingli dismissed the ministers. Soon, only the young Emperor Mo Xuyin remained in the great hall besides the attending eunuchs. Mo Xuyin was terrified of this uncle who always looked at him with such frightening eyes, and seeing no one else around, he could only shrink his small frame further into the dragon throne.
Mo Jingli’s eyes darkened, his gaze at the child on the dragon throne growing increasingly gloomy. If his son were still alive, he would be about this child’s age, but Mo Jingqi had taken his son somewhere unknown, and yet he had to carefully look after Mo Jingqi’s son! Looking at the timid child made him increasingly irritated. Mo Jingli yanked Mo Xuyin from the dragon throne and dragged him toward the inner palace, not caring that a seven-year-old child could hardly keep up with an adult’s stride. Along the way, the boy stumbled repeatedly, practically being dragged by Mo Jingli. The palace servants and eunuchs naturally saw the young emperor’s disheveled state, but with the regent now controlling everything in the palace, who would dare offer any advice?
Mo Jingli dragged Mo Xuyin to the Empress Dowager’s palace, where Empress Dowager Li was speaking with the Grand Empress Dowager. Seeing Mo Jingli enter, she was startled, and upon seeing her son’s disheveled state, tears immediately fell. “My son…”
“Get lost!” Mo Jingli snapped impatiently. If he still held some respect for the former Empress Hua, this Empress Dowager Li meant less than a blade of grass to him. Li indeed trembled in fear, frozen in place. She could only watch her pale-faced son helplessly through her tears. The Grand Empress Dowager sitting nearby shook her head and sighed. Though she disliked how domineering the previous Empress Dowager had been, this Li was far too weak. They say a mother becomes strong for her child, but this Li couldn’t even muster that strength for her son.
“Li’er, what are you doing?” The Grand Empress Dowager scolded, displeased at Mo Jingli’s dark expression.
Mo Jingli carelessly threw Mo Xuyin to the ground nearby, not caring if he was hurt, and laughed coldly, “What am I doing? Mother, tell me, where did Mo Jingqi take my son?!”
The Grand Empress Dowager remained silent. If she hadn’t understood before, after so much time she certainly did now. She never imagined that her two sons would be equally ruthless in dealing with their blood brothers. Shaking her head, she said, “I don’t know. You know my relationship with your imperial brother was not as filial as others believed. If he did such a thing, why would he tell me?” Over these months, Mo Jingli had come to ask almost every few days, and the Grand Empress Dowager vaguely understood—it seemed the child that Ye Ying had borne was likely Mo Jingli’s only child in this lifetime.
“You should ask Liu about this. Weren’t you the one who wanted to protect her?” the Grand Empress Dowager said flatly, her words containing a hint of mockery. Her son, when his mother was being forced to follow in death, didn’t save his mother but instead saved an outsider. Whenever she thought of this, the Grand Empress Dowager felt a crushing pain in her heart.
“That worthless Liu Guifei!” Mo Jingli cursed hatefully. Outsiders all thought Liu Guifei had died in that great fire, but those in the know understood what had happened. Liu Guifei had been so determined to fake her death that she didn’t hesitate to sacrifice her daughter—truly poisonous. But though Mo Jingli had searched the entire territory inside and out, he never found any trace of Liu Guifei. In his fury, Mo Jingli had thrown the entire Liu clan, old and young, into prison, but even after months of torture, they revealed nothing.
The Grand Empress Dowager sighed lightly and looked at Mo Jingli. “I heard the Stabilizing King took the Western Ling imperial city and has now set out to return to Li City?”
Mo Jingli laughed coldly. “Mother’s information is quite current, but… this doesn’t require mother’s concern. The inner palace… is not to interfere in politics!”
“You!” The Grand Empress Dowager’s face darkened, a breath caught in her chest. Her finger trembled as she pointed at Mo Jingli, unable to speak a word. Beside her, Li came to her senses—after all, she was well-practiced in attending to the Grand Empress Dowager—and quickly moved forward to help ease her breathing. It took quite a while for the Grand Empress Dowager to recover, but by then Mo Jingli had already stormed out.
“Mother…” Li held out the ginseng tea, calling timidly.
The Grand Empress Dowager swept the table settings to the ground with one hand, crying with elderly tears, “What sin did I commit to give birth to such unfilial sons…”
Mo Jingli, who had already stepped out of the palace gates, heard the crying from within and showed a contemptuous cold smile. The so-called mother-son relationship had been completely worn away over these years. In Mo Jingli’s heart, his birth mother was even less important than his aunt, the Virtuous Shining Consort Dowager, who had cared for him. So after moving south, Mo Jingli didn’t hesitate to also bestow the title of Grand Empress Dowager on the Virtuous Shining Consort Dowager. This also caused the Empress Dowager to develop a rift with her cousin who had supported her all her life, and their relationship was no longer as close as before.
Walking along the winding corridors of the palace, Mo Jingli temporarily set aside thoughts of his son and recalled the matters in the great hall. Remembering the hope that had risen and gradually dimmed in the ministers’ eyes, his smile grew colder. They still held expectations for Mo Xiuyao. How foolish. He controlled the wealthy southeastern region—why should he fight with those people? He only needed to guard the natural barrier of the Yunlan River and properly develop this southeastern region, enriching the people and strengthening the military. Let Mo Xiuyao go fight with the Northern Rong, the northern border, and those Western Ling barbarians. Mo Xiuyao might be able to defeat one or two opponents, but could he defeat all three? When they had fought each other to exhaustion, he would seize the opportunity to restore the empire… Who would dare say Mo Jingli was not the ruler who would bring about a great revival?
At this moment, Leng Haoyu, who had retreated to the imperial capital after the fall of Zijing Pass and was planning to return to the northwest with his elderly father to see his beloved son, immediately frowned upon receiving the letter personally delivered by Wei Lin. Looking helplessly at Wei Lin, he said, “Little Wei, couldn’t you have come two days later? This young master was just about to set out for the northwest.”
Wei Lin smiled at him and said, “According to Master Qingchen’s meaning, even if you, Second Master Leng, reached the gates of Flying Swan Pass, you’d likely have to turn back anyway.”
Leng Haoyu let out a light snort, knowing he spoke the truth. He waved the letter in his hand and asked, “Why did Master Qingchen have you personally deliver this? Isn’t this a waste of talent?” Though Wei Lin was only a personal guard to the Stabilizing King’s consort, everyone in the manor knew that the lady had never treated Wei Lin, Zhuo Jinglin, or Han Wei as mere guards. Their abilities far exceeded ordinary guards, and if they were sent out on missions, their status would likely not be much lower than Leng Haoyu’s. Therefore, even trusted confidants like Feng San and Leng Haoyu, who had been by Mo Xiuyao’s side for years, always treated Wei Lin and the others as equals.
Wei Lin said seriously, “Master Qingchen’s intention is for this subordinate to accompany Second Master Leng in assisting General Leng in defending the imperial capital.”
Leng Huai, sitting to the side, was startled. Since being brought back to the imperial capital by Leng Haoyu and seeing its current state, he had grown somewhat disheartened, but even so, he didn’t want to abandon the capital and flee west like a deserter. However, this son whom he had never paid much attention to showed unprecedented sharpness and capability, giving Leng Huai no choice in the matter. He hadn’t expected such a turn of events before departure, and while happy, he worried about what would happen if Leng Haoyu became trapped in this situation. As an official and general of Great Chu, his death would be insignificant, but he hadn’t considered having his son die alongside him.
“Master Wei, will His Highness the Stabilizing King send reinforcements?” Leng Huai asked.
Wei Lin frowned slightly and said, “When I left the northwest, His Highness was still in Western Ling and had not returned, and outside Flying Swan Pass, there were hundreds of thousands of Northern Rong and Western Ling troops watching like tigers eyeing their prey. However, years ago, the lady had arranged a hidden force within Great Chu’s territory, and General Murong Shen also received Master Qingchen’s letter and temporarily abandoned the standoff with Lei Zhenting to continue marching north. Master Qingchen hopes the imperial capital can hold for at least three months.”
“Three months…” Leng Huai frowned slightly, not because he didn’t understand the Mo family army’s current difficulties, but because life in the imperial capital was also challenging. When Mo Jingli went south, he took most of the military forces with him. Now the capital only had about two hundred thousand troops, consisting of defeated soldiers from the Northern Rong and northern border frontlines, some troops left to defend the city, and mostly old units of the Duke of Hua. The morale of the soldiers who retreated from the front lines was extremely low, and with enemy forces now at the city gates, the spirits of both the army and civilians in the city had fallen. Let alone three months, Leng Huai worried whether they could even hold for one month.
“Three months is certainly no problem. If we can’t hold the imperial capital for these three months, on the day the city falls, this old man will die to apologize to the world!” An aged but still resonant voice came from outside. Everyone turned to look—it was the white-haired Duke of Hua. Though in his seventies, the Duke wore battle armor and a war robe, walking with the vigor of a dragon and tiger, still showing glimpses of his former battlefield presence and grandeur.
Everyone quickly rose and said, “Old Duke, Princess Imperial.” Besides the Duke of Hua was the equally white-haired Princess Imperial Fuxi, supported by Princess Zhaoyang. Behind them followed two youths about twelve or thirteen years old—the girl with her head half-lowered, unable to hide the scar on half her face, was Princess Zhenning, born to Noble Consort Liu, along with Prince Mo Xiaoyun. Mo Jingli had taken many princes, princesses, and royal relatives south, but for some reason, this pair of siblings had remained behind with Princess Imperial Fuxi.
The Duke of Hua looked at Leng Huai, then examined Leng Haoyu for a while before asking, “Will the Stabilizing King truly send troops to rescue the imperial capital?”
Leng Haoyu’s expression became slightly guarded, his lips curving into a playboy’s smile as he said, “Old Duke, you’re putting this junior in a difficult position. I’ve always been in Great Chu and have rarely even been to the northwest, how could I know His Highness’s intentions? Moreover, His Highness is still far away in Western Ling, and assisting in defending the city is Master Qingchen’s idea.” Therefore, no one could be certain of the Stabilizing King’s plans. Although Master Qingchen’s word was law in the northwest, he wasn’t the Stabilizing King himself, so he couldn’t make any promises to the Duke of Hua on the king’s behalf.
The Duke of Hua snorted lightly, looking at Leng Huai with a half-smile, “Among your sons, this one seems more capable than the others.” The Duke had always paid attention to the Stabilizing King’s manor, and since Leng Haoyu had always been close to Feng Zhiyao, who had been friends with Mo Xiuyao since childhood, the Duke was naturally familiar with him. He hadn’t expected him to be one who played the fool to catch tigers. Previously, he had thought the Leng family’s military lineage had produced one who only loved doing business, but now looking at his performance at Zijing Pass, this Leng Haoyu, who had always acted like a playboy, was keeping his abilities hidden—even somewhat stronger than Leng Jingyu, who had always been praised.
Leng Huai could only smile awkwardly, taking the old Duke’s words as teasing him for not even understanding his son. However, he wasn’t unhappy that this son born of a concubine had surpassed his carefully nurtured eldest legitimate son. For Leng Haoyu to surpass his elder brother despite receiving no attention proved his capability—they were both his sons, so Leng Huai naturally had no misgivings.
The Duke of Hua narrowed his eyes at Leng Haoyu, who maintained a lazy, casual demeanor, and said flatly, “Young Leng, don’t beat around the bush with this old man. I don’t believe you don’t know what the Stabilizing King’s manor truly intends.” Leng Haoyu’s eyes darted around as he sat up, smiling, “Old Duke, you can’t say that. Let’s not even discuss what the Stabilizing King’s manor intends—even if His Highness returned early and was willing to send troops to help, there are over a million Northern Rong troops between the northwest and Great Chu. It’s a question of whether help could arrive in time. Also… let me be frank, Old Duke, even if the imperial capital is saved, who would it belong to?”
The Duke of Hua stared at Leng Haoyu and asked, “Is this the Stabilizing King’s idea or Master Xu’s?”
Unaffected by the pressure the Duke of Hua deliberately released, Leng Haoyu casually rubbed his nose and smiled, “I’m just asking casually. Old Duke knows that Leng Haoyu is a businessman. By rights… whether the imperial capital lives or dies has nothing to do with the Stabilizing King’s manor anymore, right? Why should the manor risk letting its rear ignite to reinforce the imperial capital, even facing the Northern Rong and northern border armies?”
The Duke of Hua remained silent, understanding Leng Haoyu’s meaning perfectly. The Mo family army had no obligation to sacrifice so many soldiers’ lives to help Great Chu repel strong enemies and defend the imperial capital. Especially now that the entire Great Chu royal family had abandoned the capital and fled south, why should the Mo family army help their enemies reclaim the city?
“Second Master Leng.” Mo Xiaoyun, who had been standing behind the Princess Imperial, suddenly spoke up. “Second Master Leng, the Great Chu royal family’s incompetence has led to the loss of most of our territory. Now they’ve even abandoned countless citizens to take refuge in the south, truly having no face to face the people of Great Chu. As long as the Mo family army can prevent the imperial capital’s citizens from being slaughtered by barbarians, in the future… the imperial capital will naturally belong to the Stabilizing King’s manor.” At these words, everyone was startled. Their gazes couldn’t help but fall on this twelve or thirteen-year-old youth. Although he had Noble Consort Liu for a mother, Mo Xiaoyun was indeed the most promising among Mo Jingqi’s surviving princes. After all, the Liu family’s years of cultivation hadn’t been wasted. Originally, Mo Jingqi had probably planned to pass the throne to Mo Xiaoyun, but unfortunately, he was ruined by his mother. Now, for a twelve or thirteen-year-old youth to speak such words was truly remarkable.
Leng Haoyu looked at Mo Xiaoyun and raised an eyebrow, asking, “Can the Prince of Qin… make such a decision?”
Mo Xiaoyun said seriously, “Before the emperor moved south, he bestowed upon me the title of Prince of Changxing, so naturally, I can make this decision.”
The imperial capital was anciently called Changxing. Now that the capital had moved, this name naturally couldn’t be used anymore, but to show that the royal family hadn’t abandoned the people, they needed to leave a prince to oversee this place. So Mo Jingli changed the title of the former Crown Prince, Prince of Qin Mo Xiaoyun, to Prince of Changxing. This meant this place was Mo Xiaoyun’s appointed territory. Although nominally it still belonged to Great Chu, in the current situation, as long as Mo Xiaoyun agreed, the southern Great Chu court truly had nothing to say.
Leng Haoyu looked at Mo Xiaoyun with interest and asked, “This is the imperial capital—are you truly willing to give it up?”
Mo Xiaoyun replied calmly, “What use is being unwilling? Without the Mo family army’s support, the imperial capital would fall sooner or later. By then, forget about being the Prince of Changxing—we probably won’t even keep our lives. The Stabilizing King is benevolent; I believe he will not harm the lives of us siblings.”
“Old Duke, what do you say?” Leng Haoyu asked.
The Duke of Hua snorted lightly and said, “The Prince of Changxing has already agreed, what more can this old man say? Second Master Leng truly knows how to do business—the Leng family has a worthy successor.” Leng Haoyu rubbed his nose somewhat embarrassedly, “The Old Duke overstates.”
The Duke of Hua stood up and said, “In that case… within these three months, whether it’s the Northern Rong or the northern border forces, this old man will not let these barbarians from beyond the frontier take one step in!”
Leng Haoyu smiled and said, “Thank you for your trouble, Old Duke.”
After seeing off the Duke of Hua and his group, Leng Haoyu rubbed his chin, silently considering whether he should write a letter to urge Master Qingchen to send troops quickly. Holding out for three months would truly not be easy—one careless move and he might lose his life.
Beside him, Leng Huai watched his son’s contemplative expression in silence. Compared to the impending bitter battle that could almost be foreseen, who the imperial capital would ultimately belong to seemed no longer such an important matter.