HomeSheng Shi Di FeiChapter 65: The Marriage Falls Through

Chapter 65: The Marriage Falls Through

The future heir to Prince Li must be born from Lingyun. Most importantly, Princess Xixia could never hold any position as a secondary consort or above, nor could she ever bear Prince Li’s children.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present, regardless of age or gender, was stunned. They looked at Lei Tengfeng with surprise and dissatisfaction. No one could believe Lei Tengfeng dared to propose such bold conditions. It was well known that Prince Li had already married his primary consort before the arrangement to marry Princess Lingyun. Lei Tengfeng’s conditions clearly demanded that Prince Li’s primary consort, who came from Da Chu’s noble family, couldn’t bear Prince Li’s children before Princess Lingyun. More importantly, having a royal heir with a Western Ling bloodline was not something any member of the imperial family would welcome.

“This is impossible!” The Empress Dowager rejected it immediately, almost without consideration.

Lei Tengfeng raised an eyebrow and smiled: “If that’s the case, there’s nothing more to discuss. We’ll take our leave. As for today’s insult… the Great Ling will surely remember it!” After speaking, he turned and pulled Princess Lingyun, saying: “Let’s go.” Princess Lingyun had thought this marriage arrangement would continue, but unexpectedly her royal brother gave her such an abrupt surprise. She naturally had nothing more to say. She glanced at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li who were sitting aside listening, then turned to follow Lei Tengfeng, leaving quickly.

On the day Prince Li was to marry his secondary consort, the bride’s cousin pulled her away and departed in anger.

Whether or not the matter between Prince Li and Princess Xixia had spread throughout the capital was unknown, but the news of Princess Lingyun abandoning Prince Li on their wedding day spread throughout the capital and beyond in an extremely short time. Lei Tengfeng took Princess Lingyun back to the embassy, had someone lock the delighted Princess Lingyun in her room with orders not to leave, and then strode into the deepest chamber of the embassy. He kicked open the door and entered. In the dimly lit room, a woman in black was leisurely reclining on a couch reading. Only when she saw him enter did she slowly sit up and smile: “You’re back? Was Lingyun’s wedding fun?”

Slap! Lei Tengfeng stared at her for a long while before suddenly delivering a harsh slap to that face covered by a veil. “You wretch! I told you not to act rashly.” The woman in black fell back onto the couch from this sudden violence. When she came to her senses, she raised her head and glared fiercely at the man before her, gritting her teeth: “Lei Tengfeng!”

“You wretch! What exactly are you trying to do? Do you think I won’t kill you?” Lei Tengfeng’s gloomy eyes concealed a violent aura, and his words carried not a hint of warmth. The woman in black was stunned but quickly recovered, giggling: “You brought Lingyun back, didn’t you? Hehe… You didn’t agree to the alliance with Da Chu from the start anyway, isn’t this exactly what you wanted? What are you unsatisfied about now?”

“You fool!” Lei Tengfeng cursed angrily: “Who do you think you are? The capital of East Chu is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Do you think your little tricks can fool anyone? Get up, we’re leaving the capital immediately!”

“Leave?” The woman in black was startled hesitation in her eyes. Lei Tengfeng gave a cold laugh: “If you don’t want to leave, that’s fine. I’ll have someone escort you to Prince Ding’s manor shortly. Weren’t you always pining for Mo Xiuyao? Don’t worry, when we return to Western Ling, this young master will explain everything thoroughly for you!”

“No!” The woman in black screamed as she got up, grabbing Lei Tengfeng: “I’ll go with you!” No one understood Mo Xiuyao better than her – if she fell into his hands, she would die without a sound. Lei Tengfeng contemptuously shook off her hand and turned to leave. A woman both bold yet fearful of death, and still insatiably greedy…

The wedding at Prince Li’s manor unsurprisingly became a farce. What’s worse was that not only did the bride run away before the ceremony, but soon Prince Li, Princess Li, and Noble Consort Xianzhao were all summoned to the palace by an imperial edict from the Emperor.

With the bride gone, the groom gone, and the hosts gone, the guests naturally couldn’t stay to freeload. Thus, the guests who had drunk their fill of tea but eaten nothing had to bid farewell. Before long, the bustling Prince Li’s manor returned to silence, though somehow the red silk decorations everywhere seemed to carry a touch of melancholy.

Since the Emperor hadn’t summoned the Prince and Princess Ding to the palace, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao left Prince Li’s manor along with the other guests after the wedding ended halfway. However, just after leaving the manor’s main gate, they encountered the long-unseen and carefree Xu Qingchen. Xu Qingchen was known for his mysterious comings and goings – even his own family couldn’t see him when they wanted to. After Ye Li’s wedding, they had only seen him once when she returned home to visit. Meeting him at this time was quite surprising. After exchanging greetings, the three of them moved to the Chu Xiang Pavilion for a meal.

“What does Your Highness think of today’s events?” Xu Qingchen took a small sip of wine from his cup and softly praised: “They say Chu Xiang Pavilion’s wine and food are the finest in the capital, and indeed the reputation is well-deserved.”

Ye Li lowered her head and ate while listening to their conversation – after such an afternoon, she was truly quite hungry.

“Brother Xu’s intelligence network is indeed impressive.” Mo Xiuyao praised. Xu Qingchen hadn’t asked what happened but directly asked for Mo Xiuyao’s opinion, showing he was already very clear about what had occurred at Prince Li’s manor. Xu Qingchen seemed not to hear his words and sighed lightly, looking at Ye Li with some sadness as he said softly: “Li’er, why won’t your husband call me Big Brother?”

Ye Li choked slightly, forcing herself to swallow before looking up at Mo Xiuyao, then at Xu Qingchen, unable to help but twitch her lips. Xu Qingchen was three years younger than Mo Xiuyao – it would be strange if Mo Xiuyao could bring himself to say it. Moreover, even if Mo Xiuyao could say it, he would also have to call Xu Qingze Second Brother and even Xu Qingbai Fourth Brother. Mo Xiuyao passed a bowl of soup to Ye Li, watching her take a sip before turning back to Xu Qingchen with a faint smile: “Brother Xu, you are only Li’er’s cousin.”

Xu Qingchen smiled, “I don’t mind if Your Highness calls me Big Cousin.”

A flash of sharpness crossed Mo Xiuyao’s eyes as his lips curled slightly: “Then this prince thinks Brother Xu should remember… I once had the honor of receiving guidance in my studies from Master Qingyun. You are Master Qingyun’s grandson, while I am Master Qingyun’s student. Or perhaps… my grandmother seems to share the same surname as the Xu family’s first madam. Coming from the same family, though separated by two generations in age, we are actually of the same rank.”

Ye Li naturally understood that Xu Qingchen wasn’t trying to make things difficult for Mo Xiuyao – he was just joking. Taking out a handkerchief to gently wipe the corners of her mouth, Ye Li smiled softly: “Big Brother, since when did you start caring about titles? If His Highness followed my way of addressing you, wouldn’t that make the capital’s number one handsome man seem old?”

Xu Qingchen glanced lightly at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, noting how naturally Mo Xiuyao had passed the soup to Ye Li earlier, satisfaction appearing in his eyes. Hearing Ye Li’s words, he pretended to be displeased and gave her a look, sighing: “Indeed, once married, the arm bends outward. Father and Second Uncle must regret agreeing to marry you off so early. The only girl of this generation in the Xu family, just like that becoming someone else’s.” A faint blush rose on Ye Li’s beautiful face as she said: “Big Brother, did you come specially to tease me?”

Xu Qingchen shook his head, his smile fading as he looked seriously at Mo Xiuyao. After thinking for a moment, Mo Xiuyao said: “Does Brother Xu feel something was amiss about today’s events?”

“Just now… Lei Tengfeng left the capital with Princess Lingyun,” Xu Qingchen said. “He left directly without even bidding farewell to His Majesty.”

Mo Xiuyao unconsciously touched the warm jade at his waist, frowning: “Today’s events were certainly manipulated by someone behind the scenes, but… it wouldn’t be Lei Tengfeng. The alliance with Da Chu was decided before he came to Da Chu, it couldn’t be abandoned suddenly. Unless… something happened beyond his expectations.”

Ye Li frowned and asked: “Has Lei Tengfeng’s authority reached the point where he can act arbitrarily in such matters? An alliance marriage between two countries is not a small matter, even if both countries harbor ill intentions. But Lei Tengfeng cancels the agreement as he pleases – even if Mo Jingli was at fault first, this still makes Western Ling appear unreasonable.” Xu Qingchen smiled faintly: “It’s not that Lei Tengfeng has this authority, but that his father, the Southern Marquis, does. The Western Ling Emperor is weak and sickly, with only a few princesses and a seven-year-old prince. Though the Southern Marquis has no title of regent in Western Ling, he has the power of one.”

“Then… was the alliance marriage with Da Chu the Western Ling Emperor’s idea or the Southern Marquis’s?” Mo Xiuyao asked.

Xu Qingchen shook his head, “Western Ling and Da Chu are old enemies. And the Xu family’s intelligence network hasn’t reached the point of penetrating the Western Ling palace.” Mo Xiuyao nodded: “I’ll have people investigate.”

Ye Li felt these two men were thinking too far ahead and looked up to ask, “Who exactly let Princess Xixia into Prince Li’s manor? No matter how familiar Princess Xixia was with Prince Li, no matter how casually she came and went from his manor. She is still a princess, isn’t she? That a princess would enter Prince Li’s manor on his wedding day and the servants didn’t think to report it to their masters is itself very unreasonable.”

Both Xu Qingchen and Mo Xiuyao were startled, their eyes showing deep thought before exchanging a glance. Xu Qingchen suddenly laughed softly and sighed: “It seems we’ve overlooked many things. Having been carefree outside for these years has indeed made me somewhat unaccustomed to the capital…” Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly, “Brother Xu speaks truly. It seems that in these years of seclusion, many changes have occurred in the capital that we don’t know about. I’ll have people look into this matter.”

Xu Qingchen nodded: “I naturally trust Your Highness with this. It happens that I’ll be leaving the capital in a few days, so I probably won’t be able to help with these matters.”

Ye Li was startled, “Big Brother, you’re leaving the capital? Returning to Yun Province?”

Xu Qingchen shook his head and smiled: “No, I plan to visit Nanzhao.”

“Nanzhao?” Ye Li was puzzled, “I remember Fifth Brother mentioning that you were just in Nanzhao two years ago.”

Mo Xiuyao held his wine cup, frowning: “You think something will happen in Nanzhao?”

Xu Qingchen sighed, looking at Mo Xiuyao: “I don’t believe you haven’t noticed – trouble could break out anywhere now. Once Prince Ding’s manor completely falls, the various forces that have been suppressed by Prince Ding’s manor for nearly a hundred years will seize the opportunity to consume Da Chu. Whether it’s Nanzhao, Western Ling, or Northern Rong, even the island nations overseas – who isn’t salivating over the most beautiful and fertile land on this continent? Yet those in power only see the threat of Prince Ding’s manor. On one hand, they try every means to suppress Prince Ding’s manor, while on the other hand, they fear the emergence of a second Prince Ding and are unwilling to support and cultivate new military talents. Have they never considered what will happen to Da Chu when they lose Prince Ding’s manor without having capable commanders to replace them? Or does the one sitting high on the dragon throne think he can be invincible on the battlefield just by playing with power?”

“Does Big Brother think… Nanzhao will make the first move?” Ye Li asked. Although Nanzhao’s people were known for their fierce customs, they weren’t as militarily capable as the Northern Rong or Western Ling. Moreover, after being swept across the southern borders by Mo Xiuyao years ago, present-day Nanzhao might not be able to wage war against Da Chu.

Xu Qingchen said: “Originally they wouldn’t have, but now… I’m afraid our Emperor will make the first move against Nanzhao.”

“Oh?” Ye Li raised an eyebrow, turning to look at Mo Xiuyao. Seeing agreement in Mo Xiuyao’s calm eyes, she continued, “Has he… gone mad? We already have constant conflicts with Northern Rong and Western Ling. If we ignite another war with Nanzhao, aren’t we afraid of the three nations joining forces to attack? At that time, not only did Da Chu lack any capable generals now, but even if Mo Lanyun and Mo Liufang were reborn, Da Chu would still be in danger.”

Xu Qingchen sighed: “Though our late Emperor ascended the throne young, the Regent truly taught him well. But… our current Emperor probably wasn’t taught by the late Emperor, it seems he was educated by the Empress Dowager. The late Emperor was only forty when he passed away – he probably thought he would live another twenty or thirty years and hadn’t planned to cultivate an heir so early to cause himself trouble. Who knew he would suddenly leave this world? Although the Empress Dowager is known as a remarkable woman of her generation, she is still just a palace lady. What she could truly teach an emperor was scheming and plotting. Of course, it was precisely the Empress Dowager’s methods that allowed Mo Jingqi to secure the throne smoothly after the late Emperor’s death. But while scheming can be used to seize an empire, it cannot be used to rule one. Although Mo Jingqi aims to become a sage emperor, he knows that his ability to govern might not even match his father’s. Therefore, he is even more protective and careful of his throne. Anyone who might threaten his position is eliminated without mercy.”

Ye Li frowned: “But Big Brother, what can you do there? What if you encounter danger?”

Looking at these two worried men before her, Ye Li couldn’t help but sigh. This was how the world was – some people exhausted themselves worrying about the country and its people, while others schemed in the darkness. Some suffered in their clarity, while others danced in their ignorance.

Xu Qingchen smiled: “I have some friendship with the Crown Princess of Nanzhao, I’m just going to visit her.”

“The Crown Princess?” Ye Li marveled at Xu Qingchen’s extensive connections.

Mo Xiuyao raised his cup to him: “Thank you.”

Xu Qingchen raised his cup in return, saying calmly: “No need, this is Father’s wish, not for Prince Ding’s manor. The Xu family will not betray Da Chu, but we are not saviors with the power to reverse heaven’s will. We can only do what we are capable of.”

After Xu Qingchen left, Ye Li understood that he had come specifically to bid them farewell. Even Mo Xiuyao had praised Uncle Xu as possibly one of the wisest people in the world. Perhaps as soon as news of Princess Lingyun’s failed marriage alliance spread, Uncle Xu had already foreseen Da Chu’s future path. And before everyone, including the Emperor, could react, he had sent Big Brother to the southern borders. If anything were to happen to Da Chu in the future, the Xu family couldn’t escape it either, could they?

Mo Xiuyao looked at her with gentle eyes and said softly: “If you’re referring to going into seclusion, that probably won’t work. With the Xu family’s integrity, they won’t be loyal to the Emperor, but they will certainly die for Da Chu. Does Li’er know why the Xu family, as former dynasty’s officials, has maintained their reputation in Da Chu for a hundred years without decline?” Ye Li raised an eyebrow, and Mo Xiuyao continued: “At the end of the previous dynasty, chaos reigned throughout the land. Actually… the last emperor of the previous dynasty wasn’t a tyrant or an incompetent ruler. He had almost no flaws – he just wasn’t suited to being emperor. The Xu family’s ancestors consistently supported the last emperor through the crisis. Though they were a scholarly family, at least seven Xu family members died on the battlefield. Finally, when ancestor Mo Lanyun’s troops surrounded the capital, the then-head of the Xu family, despite being a scholar, personally went to the city walls to direct the defense. After seven days and nights of fierce battles with no breakthrough, the founding emperor’s eldest son, eager for military glory, rashly advanced and died in the chaos. The founding emperor was furious and ordered soldiers to capture civilians from around the capital for daily executions. As long as the last emperor didn’t surrender, five thousand civilians would be killed each day. And when the city fell, everyone within would be slaughtered. The next day, the Xu family Head personally killed the last emperor and surrendered the city, with only one condition – that the capital’s civilians and those nearby would not be harmed. On the day the Chu army entered the city, the Xu family Head left a letter for our ancestor, then committed suicide. On the same day, the Xu family’s matriarch led seventy-three family members to commit suicide for their loyalty to the nation. They left only one thirteen-year-old youngest son who was far away in Yun Province at the time. He later became Da Chu’s young chancellor, Xu Yanli.”

Ye Li was shocked by this never-before-heard secret, and a nameless sorrow caught in her throat. She regretted and felt ashamed of the careless words she had said to Uncle Xu. She might not understand what scholarly integrity meant, but as a soldier, she understood and deeply comprehended a soldier’s iron backbone and loyalty. She dared not imagine Uncle Xu’s disappointment and pain when she had asked such questions. It was practically the greatest insult and desecration to the Xu family’s ancestors and those seventy-three who died for their loyalty.

“Then… why…” Ye Li asked with lowered eyes.

Mo Xiuyao said: “You want to ask why it’s different from the historical records? It’s not different. Xu Yanli did wholeheartedly assist the Da Chu Emperor, and Da Chu’s third emperor was even personally taught by him. After the founding of the dynasty, the founding emperor also bestowed titles and enviable ranks on all the deceased members of the Xu family.” Seeing Ye Li’s surprised expression, Mo Xiuyao smiled calmly: “The founding emperor had killed too many in his conquest of the realm and needed a reputation for benevolence to secure his rule.”

“What letter did the Xu family’s ancestor leave for Prince Ding?” Ye Li asked hesitantly. Things certainly weren’t as simple as Mo Xiuyao described – the founding emperor wouldn’t have trusted and heavily employed a chancellor whose entire family had died loyal to the previous dynasty. Mo Xiuyao shook his head and smiled: “That remains unknown. Our ancestor seems to have given the letter to the founding emperor in the end. And that letter saved Xu Yanli’s life. Afterward… somehow the story of the Xu family’s mass suicide for the capital’s civilians spread, and given that the Xu family was already a prestigious clan of several hundred years, their reputation naturally soared. Although many details in the founding dynasty’s historical records were taboo and unclear, many things gradually took root in people’s hearts. Even if many things have gradually been forgotten, many people still inherited certain things from their forebears’ words, such as respect for the Xu family.”

Ye Li finally understood somewhat why the Xu family never intermarried with the royal family, even if they truly no longer harbored hatred. But they still couldn’t deny the fact that the Xu family had once been destroyed because of the Da Chu royal family. This probably also explained why, even though the Xu family always appeared so indifferent to fame and power, the royal family never gave up the idea of suppressing them. Perhaps what Mo Lanyun had done wasn’t as simple as Mo Xiuyao had described it.

Ye Li rubbed her temples with some distress, asking almost desperately: “Will there be war?”

“It’s only a matter of time.” Mo Xiuyao sighed softly: “Da Chu has suppressed other nations for too long – almost everyone is eagerly waiting for Da Chu’s decline. And we… seem to have grown accustomed to thinking we’re the strongest. Actually, if not for that defeat seven years ago, even I thought that way. But when I dragged my broken body away from the battlefield, carrying my brother’s ashes and what remained of the Mo family army that had lost most of its elite soldiers, I finally understood how laughably arrogant I had been. Whether it’s Western Ling or Northern Rong, they might not match Da Chu, but they’re not that far behind either. The Mo family army and Black Cloud Cavalry that once swept across the land proved this with their hundred thousand corpses. Li’er… it was Prince Ding’s manor that ruined Da Chu…” After a long while, Mo Xiuyao finally uttered these words quietly. “If Prince Ding’s manor hadn’t always appeared so powerful, Da Chu might have produced more great generals and elite soldiers. If the Mo family army hadn’t intimidated the borders for hundreds of years, Da Chu might have been able to go further in times of crisis.”

Ye Li remained silent, unsure who was right or wrong. How many throughout history could match Prince Ding’s manor’s hundred years of loyal protection of Da Chu? Were they wrong? Certainly not. They were the people they protected wrong? No, they knew nothing at all. After a long while, Ye Li finally said softly: “You weren’t wrong – what’s wrong is human nature. Not every emperor has the breadth of mind and courage to embrace all under heaven, nor does every emperor have the ability and dignity to draw all to come in submission. When an emperor sees his officials not as his arms and legs but as threats, their excellence and achievements appear more like challenges and intimidation in the emperor’s eyes.”

Hearing Ye Li’s words, Mo Xiuyao gazed at her thoughtfully for a long while before smiling faintly: “Sorry, Li’er, did talking about these things frighten you?”

Ye Li gave him a calm glance – was she someone who frightened so easily? Mo Xiuyao shook his head, “There’s no use dwelling on these things now. Li’er, why don’t you guess how the matter at Prince Li’s manor will be resolved?”

Ye Li shrugged indifferently: “How else could it be resolved? The Emperor kills Princess Xixia in his rage and demotes Prince Li. Or do the old princes persuade the Emperor to calm down, and he merely imprisons Princess Xixia and gives Prince Li a light punishment? Or else… Princess Xixia marries Prince Li under a different identity.” Ye Li felt the Empress Dowager, as a mother, had accepted Princess Xixia too quickly. Her eldest son’s future consort had been involved with her second son, yet she had only mildly scolded them before planning the marriage. She seemed to have given no thought to how the Emperor might react. If it were an ordinary mother of this era, she would likely first kill the woman who might cause her sons to turn against each other.

“Which does Li’er think is more likely?” Mo Xiuyao asked.

Ye Li thought for a moment, “The third option.” Frowning, she continued, “Then were today’s events someone else’s scheme, or did they scheme against others? It seems… we need to reassess Prince Li’s intelligence, or perhaps the intelligence of those behind him?”

“Li’er, stay away from Mo Jingli in the future,” Mo Xiuyao warned. Ye Li nodded absent-mindedly, her mind still on the previous question: “What use is the Nanzhao Princess to Mo Jingli?”

Mo Xiuyao seemed somewhat surprised, glancing at Ye Li before smiling faintly: “She’s the Crown Princess of Nanzhao’s sister – far more useful than Princess Lingyun.”

Ye Li’s frown deepened, “If Mo Jingli has the wit, wouldn’t I be just as good as Ye Ying?”

Mo Xiuyao seemed to smile even more pleasantly: “Trust me, if Mo Jingli had any wit, he would rather marry Princess Lingyun than you.”

Ye Li’s face darkened – was she being dismissed so thoroughly?

“However… their calculations might be wrong. Mo Jingqi is someone who… seems to never play by the rules. Although this emperor isn’t as brilliant as he thinks himself to be, occasionally he makes unexpected moves that ordinary people can’t handle.”

Thus, by the time they returned to their manor, news had already spread from the palace – Princess Xixia had died from illness. Of course, this news wouldn’t be officially announced for some days. After all, even though the nobles and officials already knew and understood what had happened, they still needed to find a way to deceive the common people. Princess Xixia’s sudden death on the same day as the incident at Prince Li’s manor – anyone who wasn’t a fool could connect the two events and imagine what had happened. As for Prince Li’s marriage to Princess Lingyun? Since the palace had made no mention of it, everyone was happy to pretend it had never happened – that the Emperor had never arranged the marriage, and they had never sent gifts to Prince Li’s manor. After all, they wouldn’t need to send gifts when Prince Li married Princess Xixia either, so they could consider the gifts as having been sent in advance.

In the palace, in an elegantly decorated but somewhat desolate hall, Mo Jingqi was venting his fury without restraint. The palace servants had all fled in terror, and those who couldn’t escape could only cower in corners, trembling. Various precious antiques and paintings were smashed and torn to pieces on the floor, tables and chairs and embroidered stools, shelves for displaying items – all had been kicked over and scattered. Noble Consort Liu sat coldly on a carved couch nearby, watching the raging man before her with an indifferent expression. A richly dressed little girl of seven or eight years old, with terrified eyes, was held in her arms, seemingly so frightened she didn’t dare even cry.

Noble Consort Liu raised a hand to cover the girl’s eyes, looking at the frenzied man in the hall: “Has Your Majesty had enough?”

Mo Jingqi froze, slowly stopping and turning to look at Noble Consort Liu’s ice-cold face, a flash of viciousness crossing his clouded eyes.

“Someone come, take the Princess away,” Noble Consort Liu commanded. The palace servants kneeling in the corner were as if granted amnesty, quickly scrambling up to take the frightened, trembling girl from Noble Consort Liu’s arms and hurrying out.

“Beloved Consort, don’t you want to say something?” Mo Jingqi’s voice had none of its usual resonant dignity from the court, instead filled with cold venom.

Noble Consort Liu raised her eyes to look at him: “What does Your Majesty want this consort to say?”

“You’re also laughing at me in your heart, aren’t you?” Mo Jingqi grabbed Noble Consort Liu’s delicate chin, whispering in her ear. His cold breath was like a poisonous snake flickering its tongue: “I know, you’re just like them! No… you look down on me even more than they do, right? Seeing everyone oppose me makes you happy, doesn’t it?”

“If Your Majesty says so,” Noble Consort Liu said coldly.

Slap! Mo Jingqi’s hand struck Noble Consort Liu’s jade-like face, instantly raising red marks. Noble Consort Liu raised her head, calmly meeting his gaze. Mo Jingqi froze, “Shang’er…” Staring at the red marks on Noble Consort Liu’s face, Mo Jingqi reached out tenderly, wanting to touch them: “Shang’er… I was wrong, I shouldn’t have hit you… Does it hurt? Why don’t you listen… Why do you always oppose me? Why do you always have to meddle in everything, why do you threaten me, I hate being threatened!” As he spoke, Mo Jingqi seemed to grow more agitated, quickly forgetting his earlier tenderness as he grabbed Noble Consort Liu’s shoulders and shook her, shouting.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! You wrong the Noble Consort!” A young palace maid suddenly ran out from the side hall, crying anxiously to Mo Jingqi: “Your Majesty, please release the Noble Consort… it has nothing to do with her…”

Seeing that Mo Jingqi paid no attention to her words, the young palace maid looked around and spotted an antique vase that had somehow escaped being smashed. Gritting her teeth, she went over and picked up the vase, intending to smash it against Mo Jingqi’s back. Noble Consort Liu’s expression changed, and she quickly removed a pearl flower from her hair and threw it at the young maid. With a crash, the vase shattered on the ground.

Mo Jingqi, who had been in a frenzy, suddenly seemed to wake up and froze. The young palace maid also turned pale with fright and fell to her knees. When she had picked up the vase, her mind had been blank and she hadn’t had time to think. Now that she had come to her senses, she realized what the consequences would have been if she had struck the Emperor.

Mo Jingqi had calmed down. He glanced at the young palace maid not far behind him, slowly released Noble Consort Liu, and stood up.

As soon as he stood, Noble Consort Liu sat up straight again, still dignified and cold. If not for the red marks on her face, one might have thought nothing had happened at all. “Shang’er, you rest first. I’ll have someone come replace everything in a while.” Mo Jingqi barely glanced at Noble Consort Liu before quickly turning away, kicking aside the kneeling palace maid as he hurried out.

Noble Consort Liu stared at his hastily retreating figure, a flash of hatred and mockery crossing her cold eyes.

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