Noble Consort Ying’s expression became stern. “You want her dead?” So ruthless?

“Not me—you.” The red leaf danced in Mo Zi’s eyes like fire. “I’m only giving you a necessary reason.”

“Why do I feel that every time I meet with you, you lead me into being a troublemaker?” Noble Consort Ying cast a flirtatious glance.

“Little sister, troublemakers last a thousand years. Living a bit longer—isn’t that quite good?” Mo Zi laughed.

This time, Noble Consort Ying rolled her eyes.

Speaking of fate between people, it was truly marvelous. Mo Zi and Noble Consort Ying had no intersection in the past, weren’t friends now, and would be enemies in the future. But at this moment, they could still jointly appreciate a sea of dancing crimson.

“To be honest, I’ve always quite liked you.” Noble Consort Ying’s expression held a hint of puzzlement. “How is it that so many women here find you disagreeable? Yesterday at the banquet, there were hardly any pleasant faces, and Princess Changming was cold and sarcastic, yet Empress Wang just allowed it.”

“I’ve summarized it—basically, women who are keen on internal struggles, have no career ambitions, and enjoy making things difficult for other women won’t like me.” There were people who liked her, but they wouldn’t appear at such occasions. Those with incorrect worldviews, values, and life philosophies had no common language with her.

Noble Consort Ying suddenly turned to look at her, smiling slightly. “Why do I feel I’m also included in that?”

Mo Zi smiled back at her.

“The King hates you now,” Noble Consort Ying said.

“Thank heavens.” Mo Zi was indifferent. “In the future, people won’t say I’m heartless, being so unfeeling toward a man I once liked.”

“Extreme love becomes hate—he just hasn’t figured it out himself yet. Quite pitiful really, possessing supreme power, yet uniquely unable to possess true affection. Having lost you and lost her, there are no longer people around him who can love or who love him, yet he remains unaware.” Noble Consort Ying didn’t love Wu Yanqie. In this life she had two major goals: first, to surpass her sister; second, to sit in the highest position in the inner palace.

“You could try loving him.” As Mo Zi said these words, she knew in her heart it was irresponsible.

Noble Consort Ying laughed until her branches shook wildly. “Falling in love with an emperor generally ends badly. Because love is selfish—once you love, you want to monopolize. Monopolizing an emperor makes you a target for everyone. That’s what happened to my sister. Originally such a clever person, but seeing other women pregnant with the King’s children, she went completely mad with rage. So I won’t love him. I’ll only love my children.”

“If you want to obtain the highest power and still want romantic love, wouldn’t that be too greedy? What you gain always has a price.” Actually, in that position, even the Emperor was not entirely free. Ruling a nation well, winning over ministers—marriage alliances were indeed quite an effective means.

“What if your husband becomes emperor?” Many people believed Yuan Cheng becoming Song’s emperor was only a matter of time, including Wu Yanqie and Noble Consort Ying.

“For now, I’m still avoiding thinking about this problem.” Mo Zi smiled faintly.

“I suddenly know why I like you.” Noble Consort Ying’s willow brows lifted slightly. “You always bravely be yourself, regardless of what others say.”

Mo Zi maintained her smile and once again didn’t respond to her.

Noble Consort Ying didn’t notice. “Originally I shouldn’t say this, and the debt I owe you has been repaid, but being able to meet like this is also the will of the Eagle God. Empress Wang wants to harm you.”

The leaf in her hand fell. Mo Zi was surprised. “How do you know?”

“Never mind how I know.” Noble Consort Ying bent to pick up that red leaf, holding it between her fingers. “The ninth day of the ninth month, the Double Ninth Festival—His Majesty will hold a state banquet entertaining civil and military officials and their families, and of course us and you. Empress Wang has secretly arranged that you, Song Land’s First Lady, will endanger the root of Great Zhou’s imperial family.”

“The root of Great Zhou’s imperial family?” Mo Zi thought for a moment. “You can’t mean Consort Chen’s belly, can you?”

“Worthy of being Song Mo Zi.” Noble Consort Ying said this. “On that very day, there will be an activity of releasing lanterns on the water. You’ll be beside Consort Chen, then Consort Chen will fall into the water, the child will be lost, and all eyes will testify that you did it. You’ll be unable to defend yourself even with a hundred mouths.”

“What about you?” Mo Zi asked.

“Me? Of course I’ll act as one of those pairs of eyes—I can only do that. The Empress of Great Zhou, our mother country—I can’t afford to offend her. After all, the road ahead is still long. I also can’t befriend only you and earn the hatred of Great Zhou’s noble ladies.” Noble Consort Ying spoke with some self-mockery. “However, I remember your kindness. Without you, there would be no me today. Consider this repaying a debt one more time.” She handed the red leaf back to Mo Zi.

Mo Zi accepted it. “Many thanks.”

“No need. Though you and I can never publicly claim to be friends, in this lifetime, you’re the only one who can let me relax and speak what’s in my heart. After this time, there will probably be few opportunities to meet like this again. But I’ll always pay attention to news about you. I hope you’ll continue walking your own path, letting me see that women don’t need to depend on men to have equally splendid lives. Then I’ll have a reference point too.” Their intersections would become fewer and fewer. Even if they reunited, it wouldn’t be like now.

“Noble Consort Ying, don’t be so absolute.” Before parting ways, Mo Zi had farewell words. “Women can depend on men, just as men depend on women. In this world, no one can survive without any reliance at all. Just act without shame to your heart.”

Noble Consort Ying’s bright eyes shone like pearls, blazing brilliantly. “The King was wrong. He loved you and yet took my sister, but he didn’t know that having you, why would he need anyone else? If he had treated you sincerely, your intelligence and shipbuilding skills would have been used for Daqiu sooner or later, just as you now help Yuan Cheng. Fundamentally, he was too worldly. That Lord Sikong of yours—if I have the chance, I really want to meet him. He must be an extraordinary figure. To capture your heart and gain your strength is no ordinary feat.”

Mo Zi’s joyful laughter rang out. Sunlight like fire penetrated the red leaves, making them brilliantly beautiful. “Yes, I have plenty of faults. Originally I planned to grow old alone in this life, but Heaven treated me well and created a man no one else would dare want for me. It’s a perfect match of pot and lid. If you met him, you might not think much of him—his personality is full of bumps and angles, he speaks in halves, quite exhausting.”

Noble Consort Ying also laughed aloud. “Your words don’t count—seeing is believing. I’m leaving. Take care.”

Mo Zi stood motionless, watching her walk out of the woods, protected by a group of guards until she disappeared.

“Brother Mo, what should we do?” Zan Jin came forward. His hearing was superhuman—he’d heard everything clearly.

Mo Zi narrowed her eyes, silently wordless.

On the ninth day of the ninth month, the Great Zhou Emperor held a state banquet at the Lishan Palace in the southern suburbs of the capital, joining with his hundred officials to host the King of Daqiu and Minister Sikong Yuan. To add to the festivities, family members were also invited.

Lishan was built specially for viewing autumn scenery. It had two identical banquet platforms built on the left and right, spacious on all four sides, combining yin and yang, embraced by half the mountain, with one side facing a lake. The lake connected to a river, the river to the Yangtze, so the water was extremely spiritual. Flying fish leaping from waves and birds dancing gracefully were often seen.

On this day, the spectacle was unprecedented, with all of the capital’s elite gathered together. In front of the palace gates, the little eunuchs hardly had a moment to straighten their backs—whoever came was a distinguished guest, all of higher status than them.

Yuan Cheng and Mo Zi’s carriage could be driven directly in—this was the treatment for a nation’s monarch and queen consort, but the two accepted it calmly. Regardless of what their past identities or positions were, at this moment they represented Song. In the confrontation between nations, they couldn’t fall short in presence by half a measure.

“A place like a fairyland—I truly can’t see half a trace of conspiracy.” Having already told Yuan Cheng what Noble Consort Ying said, between facing it and being absent, Mo Zi chose the former.

“I wonder if there will be crabs today?” Yuan Cheng asked, completely off topic.

Mo Zi replied, “We need to learn a lesson from Great Zhou’s imperial banquets. In the future, if Song also holds banquets, we must focus on the dishes and flavors. Don’t waste words—just eat and watch performances, don’t discuss public affairs, chat less about private matters. If you invite people to eat, you should at least let them eat their fill. I’ve never eaten my fill at Lord Huang’s place—every time I’m called upon, on edge with trepidation. What’s the point? Kindly holding a banquet yet not earning a good reputation.”

Yuan Cheng laughed heartily again. “Makes sense—at least wait until everyone’s eaten their fill before starting anything.”

“Exactly.” Mo Zi smiled with narrowed eyes.

After exiting the carriage, they were already at the base of the steps. The little eunuchs wanted to clear the way, asking the officials on the steps to make room, but Yuan Cheng said it wasn’t necessary. He and Mo Zi walked hand in hand, joining among Great Zhou’s hundred officials.

Putting on airs required distinguishing between necessary and unnecessary.

Upon entering the banquet platform, they immediately saw the King of Daqiu and Noble Consort Ying already speaking with the Great Zhou Emperor, while Xiao Wei and Zhong An stood behind the Emperor.

“Actually, several years ago, I met the King of Daqiu once,” Yuan Cheng said to Mo Zi.

Mo Zi was hearing him mention this for the first time.

“He wasn’t yet crown prince, the borders were still relatively peaceful. The four nations met at the Great Zhou border to discuss expanding border trade goods. At that time I used a false name and mixed into the Yuling delegation. He was Daqiu’s team leader, and Xiao Wei was the guard commander of Great Zhou’s representatives.” At that time, Yuan Cheng didn’t yet know that the three of them would later have their fates intertwined because of Mo Zi.

“I remember now—Xiao Wei mentioned it when he caught you on the boat.” Thinking again, Mo Zi recalled that Wu Yan had indeed been sent as an envoy to Great Zhou. At that time, he seemed still far from the throne, but was already preparing to seize the crown prince position, and she had still worried about his health.

“At that time he was a pale, physically weak yet gracefully mannered noble young master. Only his eyes couldn’t conceal their sharp edge. Now he’s even more a king of imposing stature. Events are hard to predict.” Comparing past and present, Yuan Cheng couldn’t help but sigh.

“Neither you nor Xiao Wei—Wu Yan never mentioned it in front of me. In fact, he didn’t discuss his ambitions or current affairs with me until he suddenly seized the crown prince position.” At that time, she was blinded by infatuation—right? First love, inevitably led to confusion and foolishness.

“I was insignificant, a petty secretary. Xiao Wei, however, was full of vigor. Standing alongside him, his radiance was far stronger.” He still remembered watching from the sidelines, already knowing he would have to deal with formidable people in the future.

As the married couple whispered together, the Great Zhou Emperor had already seen them and smiled warmly. “Did the people outside fall asleep? They didn’t even announce you.”

Yuan Cheng stepped forward and merely nodded in salute.

Mo Zi made a shallow curtsy, completely unconcerned by a cold glare, raising her head with a smile. “With so many lords, announcing each one—we’d never get to eat.”

The Emperor laughed heartily. “Zhen has discovered that Lady Sikong truly loves to eat. Knowing you love crabs, today Zhen specially instructed the imperial kitchen to prepare them.”

Mo Zi didn’t hide her delight. “Your Majesty fulfills the host’s duties. Naturally this guest won’t be polite with you. Just now I saw fresh fish in the lake. How about having people catch a few tails to add dishes to the main table?”

The Emperor said it was excellent.