The First Jasmine - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: A Fire Rises in Yaohua Palace

Standing before the towering, magnificent imperial palace, Ye Li sighed softly in her heart. This was her third time entering the palace. Given her two previous, rather unpleasant experiences, being summoned by the Emperor this time filled her mind with even more caution and wariness. As the Princess Consort of Ding, she was, after all, a female dependent. Under normal circumstances, even if the Emperor truly wished to see her, the summons should have been issued under the name of either the Empress or Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi.

"Princess Consort of Ding, His Majesty is inside. Please enter." The eunuch leading the way said in a low voice imbued with a hint of sycophancy. Ye Li turned her head slightly to glance at him, retaining a faint impression that this was the very same eunuch who had previously delivered the imperial decree of her arranged marriage to the Ye Manor.

Ye Li nodded. Qing Luan and Qing Yu had both been left outside, and it was naturally impossible for the hidden guards to move about so freely within the imperial palace. Thus, Ye Li could only walk alone into that splendidly glided palace that symbolized power and wealth.

"Ye-shi, Princess Consort of Ding, pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless peace." Inside the spacious hall, the lack of human presence made the atmosphere feel cold and empty. High upon his throne, Mo Jing Qi sat looking down at the woman curtsying in the middle of the hall. Only after a good long while did he speak, "Princess Consort of Ding, rise." Ye Li rose and said, "Many thanks, Your Majesty."

Mo Jing Qi gestured toward a chair to one side, indicating for Ye Li to sit. With a smile, he inquired, "Ever since winter set in, the Prince of Ding's health has been poor. I wonder if he has recovered a bit by now?"

Ye Li lowered her eyes and said softly, "Thank you for Your Majesty's concern. Now that the weather is gradually warming, although the Prince's health remains delicate, it is indeed much better than during the harsh winter." Mo Jing Qi's eyes narrowed slightly as he meticulously scrutinized the expression of the woman below the dais. She was calm and serene, appearing exactly like an ordinary young married woman from a wealthy family. However, when such serenity and composure appeared before the sovereign of a nation, it became rather extraordinary. Moreover, according to the information he had obtained, the Prince of Ding cared about this Princess Consort of his quite immensely. Could a person without any true capability make the Prince of Ding care so much? It seemed... he had indeed misjudged her back then. Even his haughty imperial brother had suffered several losses at her hands. Remembering the black-as-ink face Mo Jing Li made every single time Ye Li was mentioned in his presence, Mo Jing Qi truly began to wonder if marrying such a woman to Mo Xiu Yao was an insult to him or if it had provided him with a powerful ally. But no matter... he would resolve these issues very soon.

"To manage the Ding Prince's Manor while also tending to the Prince of Ding—the Princess Consort has truly worked hard." Mo Jing Qi said with a smile.

"Your Majesty praises me excessively. These are all things Ye Li ought to do." Ye Li replied indifferently.

As the two exchanged superficial pleasantries back and forth for a long time, Mo Jing Qi looked at the composed and tranquil woman below him, and the vexation in his heart grew deeper. It seemed that ever since he decreed the marriage for the Prince of Ding, nothing had gone smoothly. Mo Jing Li, who originally only made small moves in secret, was now acting with increasing boldness under the Grand Empress Dowager's backing, coming just short of opposing him openly on the bright surface. Because of the Grand Empress Dowager and the Prince of Li, a faint sense of panic had gripped the imperial court. Furthermore, his trusted confidant Guan Ting, who had been dispatched to station at Suixue Pass, had inexplicably had his leg broken by a horse, forcing a change of the defending general at the pass. He had stationed his confidant at Suixue Pass to guard against Mo Jing Li on one hand, and to watch Nanzhao on the other. Now, although the replacement, Murong Shen, was a capable military commander who knew how to fight wars, he was nowhere near as trustworthy as Guan Ting. Handing over such an important strategic location like Suixue Pass to someone who wasn't his own confidant made Mo Jing Qi incredibly uneasy. Yet, looking back over his options, Mo Jing Qi had to admit that among his trusted followers, there weren't many individuals of true capability. At the very least, he truly could not find a single convincing candidate to replace Murong Shen.

Thinking of the intelligence he had just received—that Mo Jing Li actually dared to secretly collude with the Southern Border Holy Maiden—fury flared a thousand yards high within Mo Jing Qi's chest. But he could only endure it. Mo Jing Li was his biological brother, and he possessed absolutely no solid evidence to prove that Mo Jing Li had any ties to the Southern Border Holy Maiden. Neither the Grand Empress Dowager nor the court ministers associated with the Prince of Li would ever agree to let him punish the Prince of Li. He was the Emperor, yet many times he discovered that he was not as supreme and absolute as he had once imagined; in fact, even making a simple decision was frequently obstructed by various factions.

"Princess Consort of Ding, when I decreed your marriage to the Prince of Ding back then, did you harbor any resentment in your heart?" After a moment of silence, Mo Jing Qi stared at Ye Li and asked rather abruptly.

Ye Li was startled. Her mind rapidly turned over what Mo Jing Qi could possibly mean by this, yet her face remained tranquil as she replied, "Your Majesty's decree of marriage was an act of grace to Ye Li. How could Ye Li harbor any resentment?"

"Oh?" Mo Jing Qi looked down at her from his high vantage point with great interest, smiling as he said, "You were originally betrothed to the Prince of Li by the late Emperor himself. My imperial brother is exceptionally handsome and accomplished in both scholarly and martial arts, making him the absolute pinnacle of young talents in the capital. Yet because of a single imperial decree, you changed from the future Princess Consort of Li into the pitied Princess Consort of Ding. Do you truly not harbor even a shred of resentment in your heart?" Ye Li's eyes flickered slightly as she smiled faintly, "The Prince of Li broke the engagement first, and Your Majesty decreed the marriage afterward. Your Majesty's arrangement precisely resolved Ye Li's awkward predicament. How could Ye Li give rise to resentment?"

"So you do not resent me... In that case, do you hate the Prince of Li? Then again, from what I know, my imperial brother has suffered losses at the Princess Consort of Ding's hands more than once."

Ye Li's heart skipped a beat, but she smiled calmly and said, "Your Majesty must be joking. What virtue or capability does Ye Li possess to make the Prince of Li suffer a loss? I wonder... what instructions does Your Majesty have in store by specially summoning Ye Li today?" If they continued to drag this out, she likely wouldn't be able to leave the imperial palace even by noon. For a titled noblewoman to remain with the Emperor for too long without the company of any palace consorts was by no means a good thing.

Mo Jing Qi looked at her and laughed, "Very well, I like intelligent people. Since that is the case, I will not beat around the bush with the Princess Consort. Princess Consort of Ding, regarding Mo Jing Li's collusion with the Southern Border Holy Maiden, does the Prince of Ding know of this matter?" Ye Li lowered her eyes and said respectfully, "Replying to Your Majesty, Ye Li is dull-witted... I do not quite understand these matters concerning the Prince of Li and some Southern Border Holy Maiden."

"You do not understand?" Mo Jing Qi raised an eyebrow, looking at Ye Li with a half-smile as he said, "The Prince of Ding truly places exceptional trust in the Princess Consort. From what I know, during the period when the Prince of Ding was gravely ill, many affairs of the Ding Prince's Manor were personally handled by the Princess Consort. Yet the Princess Consort now tells me she does not know? Does the Princess Consort know... what crime it is to deceive the Emperor?" A trace of cold light flashed through Ye Li's half-veiled eyes. Keeping her head lowered to look at the floor, she said, "Deceiving the Emperor carries the death penalty. However... if Your Majesty is certain that the Ding Prince's Manor knows of the Prince of Li's affairs, why not directly question the Prince? Ye Li is merely a mere woman. Even if I manage the affairs of the Ding Prince's Manor, I never inquire into these matters of the imperial court."

"Presumptuous!" Mo Jing Qi barked in fury, a sliver of sinister malice and killing intent erupting within the eyes staring at Ye Li. If she were an ordinary noblewoman, she might have been terrified by this intentionally released killing intent. But to Ye Li, this level of threat and intimidation was far from enough.

Rising unhurriedly, she performed a calm curtsy, "Ye Li has been presumptuous. May Your Majesty grant forgiveness."

Mo Jing Qi let out a soft snort, staring at Ye Li as he said, "That the Ding Prince's Manor is well-informed is something I know better than you. Ye Li, Mo Xiu Yao cannot protect you for a lifetime. You might not be clear about Jing Li's temperament, but Mo Xiu Yao definitely is. You might as well go back and ask him before considering my question." Ye Li was amused in her heart; was the Emperor threatening her?

"Many thanks for Your Majesty's reminder. Ye Li will consider it carefully." Ye Li said.

Seeing that Ye Li was actually so tactless, the anger in Mo Jing Qi's eyes grew even more intense. Yet he also knew that it was impossible for him to do anything to the Princess Consort of Ding inside the imperial palace. After staring fixedly at Ye Li for a long while, he snorted and ordered someone to lead Ye Li out.

As they watched Ye Li depart, Mo Jing Qi's eyes flickered with a volatile, unpredictable light. A plain-looking and entirely unremarkable young man walked out from the rear palace hall, looking respectfully at Mo Jing Qi. Calming the anger in his chest, Mo Jing Qi looked at the man and said, "Decreeing the marriage of Ye Li to Mo Xiu Yao back then truly seems to have been a misstep. What is wrong with Ye Wen Hua? This Ye Li is harder to deal with than his other four daughters combined! With her around, it's hard to guarantee the Xu family won't support Mo Xiu Yao." The young man said in a low voice, "The Xu family has not maintained excessive contact with the Ding Prince's Manor. Furthermore, it is truly unsuitable to anger the Xu family any further at this moment." The young man sighed inwardly. The Emperor was excellent in every aspect except that he was simply far too suspicious. While they were secretly matching forces against the Prince of Li and the Grand Empress Dowager, it was highly inappropriate to create more enemies. If imperial suspicion pushed the Xu family over to the Prince of Li's or the Prince of Ding's side, the loss would far outweigh the gain.

How could Mo Jing Qi not know the young man's counsel? It was merely that his inability to fully control the overall situation filled him with absolute anxiety. Waving his hand, Mo Jing Qi knit his brows and asked, "During the morning court session, Duke Hua proposed that Great Chu assist the Nanzhao royal family in suppressing the rebellion. What is your view on this?"

The young man pondered for a brief moment before nodding, "Duke Hua is wholeheartedly dedicated to the nation; his proposal is indeed beneficial and harmless to us. However, we have no need to rush to suppress the rebellion for them. Let the King of Nanzhao and the Southern Border Holy Maiden slaughter each other. As long as we provide a certain amount of assistance at the necessary moment, the King of Nanzhao will surely remember Your Majesty's grace vividly." Mo Jing Qi frowned as he thought it over, then said, "What you say makes sense. I would like to see exactly what my good brother intends to do. He wants to help the Southern Border Holy Maiden, does he? I will intentionally support the royal family of Nanzhao instead. I want to see who wins in the end!" The young man knit his brows slightly. Looking at Mo Jing Qi's cold, smiling countenance, he ultimately swallowed down the worry in his heart. He only hoped that the Emperor would not expend too much focus and energy on the Southern Border.

"Greetings, Princess Consort of Ding. Her Highness, Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi, requests your presence."

Just as she stepped out of the hall, Ye Li ran into the managing eunuch from Ye Yue's palace, who had already been waiting to one side for some time. Ye Li knit her brows slightly. Back in October, Ye Yue had safely given birth to a prince—this was the Emperor's sixth son. However, Ye Yue's status in the palace had not risen as originally expected; she remained a Consort Imperial of the Zhao-yi rank. Concurrently, she had become the only imperial consort who had given birth to a prince yet did not hold the rank of a high consort. This immediately caused Ye Yue's status, which had been rather radiant during the first half of the year, to become somewhat awkward. Even with two younger sisters who were the principal consorts of imperial princes, lacking sufficient status and position within the palace still made Ye Yue's days rather difficult. Ye Li understood in her heart that this was likely Mo Jing Qi's warning to the Ye family.

After thinking it over, Ye Li said, "This Princess Consort is feeling slightly unwell and wishes to return to the manor to rest. Pray convey my regrets to Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi."

"Princess Consort..." The managing eunuch had clearly not expected Ye Li to refuse so directly. Looking rather panicked and helpless, he said, "Princess Consort, Her Highness Ye Zhao-yi begs the Princess Consort to meet with her once, for the sake of sisterly affection." Ye Li frowned. Since Mo Jing Qi had already fixed his eyes on her, she imagined the Grand Empress Dowager's side wouldn't be too far behind either. Going to see Ye Yue right now held no benefit whatsoever, whether for herself or for Ye Yue. Last year she had noted that if Ye Yue wished to live safely in this deep palace, it was best for her to stop meddling in those matters. Now it seemed Ye Yue had meddling in them anyway. Then again, since the Ye family had already waded into these muddy waters, even if Ye Yue resided deep within the imperial palace, she likely couldn't avoid it. "Forget it, lead the way."

"Many thanks, Princess Consort." Hearing her agreement, the managing eunuch thanked her joyfully, hurriedly leading the way toward Ye Yue's Yaohua Palace.

Compared to the Ye Yue whom Ye Li had seen during her first visit to Yaohua Palace—who, though pregnant, had still been glowing with health and vigor—the current Ye Yue was clearly much more lackluster. She sat on a soft couch holding the small prince who was still in swaddling clothes, her beautiful features filled with sorrow and dimness. Seeing Ye Li enter, she hurriedly tried to rise, but Ye Li shook her head and said, "Second Sister, there is no need for such courtesy."

 

Ye Yue waved her hand to dismiss the attendants around her. Looking at Ye Li's serene yet clearly more elegant and dignified appearance compared to a few months prior, she smiled with a hint of bitterness and said, "I thought Third Sister wouldn't come to see me." Ye Li lowered her eyes and said softly, "Second Sister should know that meeting at this time holds no benefit for you or the small prince." Ye Yue was startled, lowering her head to look at the child in her arms who still understood nothing, and laughed bitterly, "How could I not know? It's just... Third Sister can see my current predicament. What does Third Sister think I can still do?" Ye Li frowned and said, "Since Second Sister now has the small prince, you might as well peacefully tend to the child. No matter how cold-hearted the Emperor may be, he won't do anything to his own flesh and blood. As for those matters concerning Father... Second Sister should stop meddling in them. Regarding other things, even if Ye Yue has the intent, she lacks the capability." She could offer no help in the match between the Emperor and the Prince of Li and Grand Empress Dowager. Instead, she would only be dragged down by Minister Ye's act of stepping on two boats at once. If Mo Jing Qi won in the end, she would at least have a prince to protect her life from mortal peril. If Mo Jing Li won, as a mere woman, she would also have no power to turn the tides.

Holding the child, Ye Yue stared blankly at Ye Li for a long while before saying faintly, "Grandmother was wrong, and Father was wrong too. I know Ying'er's temperament—she is more than capable of ruining things but entirely useless at accomplishing anything. Regardless of whether the Prince of Li loses or wins, Fourth Sister will never bring any glory to the Ye family. As for the Emperor... once the day comes when the Emperor can rule absolutely on his own, I fear Father's actions today will bring a catastrophe of total annihilation upon the Ye family."

"Is the Emperor truly withholding Second Sister's promotion because of Father's affairs?" Ye Li asked.

"Otherwise, what else could it be?" Ye Yue smiled, her smile imbued with a trace of deep sorrow. When she first entered the palace, she had also been high-spirited and held soaring ambitions. But gradually she discovered that the imperial palace was never as beautiful as she had imagined. The Emperor's most favored was the peerlessly beautiful and unboundedly talented Noble Consort Liu; the Emperor's most respected was the noble-born, grandly elegant Empress. She had prided herself on her exceptional talent and beauty, yet upon arriving in this palace where beauties gathered in droves, she amounted to nothing at all. Even his initial favor was merely out of consideration for Father's loyalty. Once he discovered that Father was not as loyal as he had imagined, the cold-hearted Emperor didn't even bother to leave her half a shred of face.

The sovereign was heartless. Regardless of whether Ye Yue walked this path willingly or by force, Ye Li could not offer her excessive sympathy. "Did Second Sister have someone bring me here because there is something you wish to say?"

Looking at her cool, indifferent expression, Ye Yue ultimately shook her head and said, "It was merely my wishful thinking. Even if I begged Third Sister to help us mother and son right now, Third Sister wouldn't agree, would she?" Ye Li said, "I cannot help Second Sister. Right now... I am afraid no one can help anyone. Since Second Sister knows of the matters between the Emperor and the Prince of Li, you should also know the predicament of the Ding Prince's Manor. It is not much better than Second Sister's current situation, is it?"

Ye Yue sighed and said, "In the past, I always prided myself on being intelligent. Only now do I know that Third Sister is actually the truly intelligent one among us sisters."

Ye Li knit her brows slightly and said, "Since Second Sister has nothing else, I will take my leave first."

Ye Yue sat quietly on the soft couch holding her child, her gaze directed at Ye Li carrying a faint trace of hidden apology. Ye Li suddenly felt a wave of alertness and stood up abruptly, yet she only felt a bout of dizziness as her vision went black, and she collapsed onto the ground with a thud. Ye Yue silently watched Ye Li fall to the floor, murmuring softly, "Apologies, Third Sister. I am the mother of a child. I must always plan for my son."

In the spring of the twelfth year of Emperor Ping of Great Chu, a fire broke out in Yaohua Palace. Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi and the Sixth Prince perished in the sea of flames, while the Princess Consort of Ding, Ye Li, who was visiting Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi at the time, went missing.

"Your Highness... Your Highness! This is bad..." Inside the Ding Prince's Manor, Chief Steward Mo, who was usually renowned for his calm composure, sprinted with disordered steps toward the study located in the side hall of the main courtyard.

Feng Zhi Yao sat slouched in a chair in a corner of the study with a look of anticipating a good show, laughing lazily, "Ah Yao, to make Chief Steward Mo panic to this extent, it seems things are truly bad..." Before his words could fully land, Chief Steward Mo arrived at the doorway of the study, his face deathly pale as he spoke to Mo Xiu Yao, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort... the Princess Consort has gone missing inside the palace!" Feng Zhi Yao was startled, instantly leaping up from his seat as he cried, "How is that possible? Why would she suddenly go missing inside the palace out of nowhere?" The two simultaneously turned their gazes toward Mo Xiu Yao, who sat to one side. Mo Xiu Yao seemed to daze for a brief moment. Only when the two looked over did he slowly place the scroll in his hand back onto the desk. In a deep voice, he asked, "What happened?" Chief Steward Mo said in a trembling voice, "After the Princess Consort emerged from her audience with the Emperor, Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi from Yaohua Palace dispatched someone to invite the Princess Consort over, claiming she had a favor to ask. By the time the hidden guards inside the palace rushed over, the entirety of Yaohua Palace was already ablaze. Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi and the Sixth Prince perished in the fire, while the Princess Consort... the Princess Consort is missing."

Leaning against his wheelchair, Mo Xiu Yao closed his eyes and asked in a low voice, "Where did Qing Luan and Qing Yu go?"

"Qing Luan and Qing Yu are also missing without a trace." Chief Steward Mo said heavily, "Qing Luan and Qing Yu did not accompany the Princess Consort into Yaohua Palace, but... the hidden guards inside the palace could not locate them."

"Very well." Mo Xiu Yao's voice was low and seemingly carried no anger, yet it made people feel as though a biting cold frost had swept through. The entire study seemed to be frozen over in an instant by a layer of frost, turning bone-chillingly cold. "The Princess Consort is missing, the two maids have vanished, yet the hidden guards in the palace remain entirely oblivious. Excellent... should this Prince praise the hidden guards for being thoroughly dedicated to their duties all these years?"

"May Your Highness appease your anger." Feng Zhi Yao's and Chief Steward Mo's expressions both changed drastically, and they simultaneously dropped to their knees to beg for punishment.

Mo Xiu Yao did not look at the two, merely waving his hand faintly as he commanded, "Go prepare. This Prince must enter the palace immediately. Feng Zhi Yao, secretly seal off all exits leading out of the capital. This Prince does not wish to see a single suspicious individual leave the capital." Feng Zhi Yao rose and said, "Your subordinate obeys the command." Chief Steward Mo hesitated for a brief moment before saying, "Your Highness, your physical condition right now is likely unsuitable..." Before his words were finished, Mo Xiu Yao cast a detached glance over. That razor-sharp glance made Chief Steward Mo's heart tremble, and the remaining words became stuck in his throat. Quick-witted and agile, Feng Zhi Yao dragged Chief Steward Mo directly out. Chief Steward Mo knit his brows in deep worry, saying, "Your Highness's body simply cannot handle such exertion right now... This... I am also anxious over the Princess Consort's disappearance, but if Your Highness falls as well, then the Ding Prince's Manor won't even need others to plot against it; it will be finished right away." Feng Zhi Yao shook his head and said, "You know Your Highness's temperament; saying anything right now is useless. Quickly go invite Master Shen over—it is best to have Master Shen accompany him into the palace."

Chief Steward Mo also understood that Feng Zhi Yao's words held merit, so he could only let out a long sigh and quickly stride toward the guest courtyard where Shen Yang temporarily resided. Feng Zhi Yao cast a worried backward glance at the silent study, and could only sigh in his heart, hoping that Ye Li was safe and sound.

Inside the study, Mo Xiu Yao stared silently down at his hands resting on the armrests. At some unknown point, a thin layer of cold frost had already formed over the back of his hands, which appeared excessively pale from long-term illness. Mo Xiu Yao looked on expressionlessly, appearing entirely oblivious to the anomaly of his hands. Gradually, the frost began to melt into tiny droplets of water, ultimately transforming into a faint, warm vapor that drifted and integrated into the study, vanishing without a trace. A sliver of dark red blood slowly trickled from the corner of Mo Xiu Yao's lips. Mo Xiu Yao lowered his head to glance at the bloodstains that had dripped onto his light-blue robes, then unhurriedly extracted a snow-white handkerchief from his sleeve to slowly wipe away the blood at the edge of his lips. "Mo Jing Qi... you, are, court, ing, death!"

Inside the imperial palace, chaos had already erupted into a complete mess. Mo Jing Qi's face was grim, and a frenzied gleam of suspicion and ferocity flickered within his eyes as he stared at every single person present. He could care less that Ye Yue and the newly born small prince had been burned to death, but if the Princess Consort of Ding was also among them, then he absolutely could not ignore it. Mo Jing Qi had never expected that someone would actually find a loophole to exploit inside his very own imperial palace. That's right—the absolute first moment the incident occurred, Mo Jing Qi had become alert to the fact that this was by no means an ordinary accidental fire; this was a conspiracy directed right at him. The Princess Consort of Ding had died inside the palace, and furthermore, she had been summoned inside by himself... Mo Jing Qi simply didn't dare to imagine how massive a wave would be whipped up if the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry threw a tantrum over this matter. Although he had dispatched his trusted intimates to alert the capital's defense guards at the very first moment, his heart remained entirely up and down, unable to settle.

As his gaze fell upon the Grand Empress Dowager who sat to one side, Mo Jing Qi's eyes grew even more complex and difficult to read. If one were to ask whom Mo Jing Qi suspected, the very first person that came to his mind was this imperial mother of his. Having grown up by the Grand Empress Dowager's side since youth, he naturally understood his imperial mother's character of employing any means necessary to achieve her goals. Moving from his childhood worship and admiration to his current inability to endure her, Mo Jing Qi didn't wish to admit that he still retained a certain amount of dread toward the Grand Empress Dowager.

Glancing once more at Mo Jing Li, who sat to one side acting as if the matter had nothing to do with him, the fury in Mo Jing Qi's eyes gradually receded. He could not lose his own composure right now; there were even more difficult individuals to deal with following this. And he... was the Emperor; he could not back down.

"The Prince of Ding arrives!"

The most recent time everyone present had seen Mo Xiu Yao was back in June of last year. At that time, seeing that Mo Xiu Yao appeared no different from a normal person aside from his inability to walk had caused quite a few people to worry to a greater or lesser extent in their hearts. However, before a few months had passed, news of the Prince of Ding being gravely ill arrived once more, and the Ding Prince's Manor closed its doors to refuse visitors just like in previous years. This caused many people's elevated hearts to slowly settle back down. It was currently early spring, and the climate of the capital still carried a bit of biting chill. Mo Xiu Yao sat in his wheelchair as he was pushed in by Ah Jin, his body draped in a light-blue silver-thread cloud-pattern cloak, the collar revealing the white, silver-dragon-embroidered principal prince's court robes underneath. Even though half of his features were concealed by the mask, one could still tell that Mo Xiu Yao's countenance was poor. The pale complexion that differed somewhat from ordinary people demonstrated that he was indeed still in the midst of illness.

"This subject, Mo Xiu Yao, Prince of Ding, pays respects to Your Majesty, the Empress. Greetings to the Grand Empress Dowager." Mo Xiu Yao said calmly from his wheelchair.

The main hall was entirely solemn. Mo Jing Qi collected his thoughts and said loudly, "The Prince of Ding may excuse himself from the courtesies."

Mo Xiu Yao said, "Many thanks, Your Majesty. Forgive this subject's discourtesy, but pray tell, where is my humble wife?"

 

Everyone inside the main hall looked at one another. Mo Jing Qi swept a glance over the completely unmoved Grand Empress Dowager and Mo Jing Li, his eyes darkening as he turned his head to look toward the Empress. The Empress cast a detached glance at Mo Jing Qi, letting out a soft sigh in her heart before opening her mouth to speak, "Prince of Ding, at that time, the Princess Consort of Ding was also inside Yaohua Palace. I fear she has already... May the Prince restrain his grief."

"Restrain my grief?" Mo Xiu Yao calmly swept his gaze over everyone in the hall, asking in a deep voice, "This Prince's Princess Consort entered the palace upon receiving an imperial summons for an audience, and now that she is missing, you tell this Prince to restrain his grief?"

"Yaohua Palace caught fire, and Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi, the Sixth Prince, as well as the palace servants of Yaohua Palace have all been located. Only the Princess Consort of Ding is missing. What the Prince of Ding says is correct—perhaps the Princess Consort of Ding managed to escape the disaster, for all we know." The Grand Empress Dowager sat up straighter, speaking with a solemn expression, "It is merely that right now... the Princess Consort of Ding is neither seen alive nor found dead. This fire at Yaohua Palace... is truly exceptionally strange."

Ye Ying sat beside Mo Jing Li, her eyes long since red from crying. She had indeed been somewhat jealous of Ye Yue, and she had indeed detested Ye Li, yet she hadn't expected that suddenly, two of her elder sisters would be gone just like that. Furthermore, when Ye Yue had still been at her maiden home, she had truly been very good to her, and over this past half year or so, her relationship with Ye Li had also eased considerably. Her life as the Princess Consort of the Li Prince's Manor had taught her many things that Wang-shi had never taught her. Therefore, she understood clearly in her heart that the passing of Ye Yue and Ye Li held absolutely no benefit for her. "Grand Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, how could my second sister's Yaohua Palace suddenly catch fire out of nowhere, and how could it be so coincidental that Third Sister was also inside? I beg the Grand Empress Dowager and Your Majesty to seek justice for my two elder sisters."

Mo Jing Li cast a glance at Ye Ying, letting out a soft snort as he remarked, "If anyone is to blame, blame Ye Li's poor luck. Instead of staying properly inside the Prince's manor, she chose to run around all over the place—didn't she just happen to be buried along with Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi and the Sixth Prince?"

Noble Consort Liu sat beside Mo Jing Qi. Hearing Mo Jing Li's words, she only then raised her head to ask in a cold voice, "The Prince of Li's meaning is that someone intended to harm Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi and the Sixth Prince, and the Princess Consort of Ding was merely accidentally implicated?" Mo Jing Li laughed coldly, "Is that not very natural? Who possesses such great audacity and has the capability to set fires and kill people inside the imperial palace? And furthermore, just happened to burn Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi and the Sixth Prince to death? Who knows if Ye Li witnessed something and was silenced by someone? Even if she hasn't been burned to death, the person should still be within the imperial palace right now."

Mo Jing Qi narrowed his eyes, staring at Mo Jing Li as he said, "What opinion does the Prince of Li have?"

Mo Jing Li smiled and said, "This imperial brother has no particular opinion. It is merely that since the Princess Consort of Ding is currently neither seen alive nor found dead, we must always provide an explanation to the court ministers and the common people. We cannot simply state that the Princess Consort of Ding went missing inside the palace just like that. If that is the case, who among the titled noblewomen of the court would ever dare enter the palace in the future?" The Empress frowned and asked, "Then what is the Prince of Li's meaning?"

"Replying to Imperial Sister-in-law, this imperial brother's meaning is that it is best to conduct a thorough search within the palace. If the Princess Consort of Ding is truly still alive, she must surely still be inside the palace; perhaps we might even find the culprit who set the fire. With so many of us sitting here idly, the culprit won't just run out before us on their own, will they? I imagine the Prince of Ding shares the same meaning as this Prince. Mo Xiu Yao, wouldn't you say so?"

Mo Jing Qi naturally did not wish to search his own inner palace, but facing the Prince of Li's righteous proposal and the Prince of Ding's indifferent compliance, he couldn't disagree. It was almost foreseeable that before tomorrow arrived, this matter would become a laughingstock circulating to every single corner of Great Chu. Mo Jing Qi felt secret hatred in his heart; this imperial brother of his, whom he had pampered since youth, was now refusing to miss a single opportunity to smear black ink across his face.

Mo Xiu Yao did not participate in that massive, grand search operation, instead remaining in the side hall to rest under the pretext of physical discomfort. He understood clearly in his heart that Mo Jing Li's so-called search could absolutely not unearth any useful clues. Conversely, it was highly likely to unearth a pile of chaotic, messy scandals from within Mo Jing Qi's inner palace. Under ordinary circumstances, he wouldn't mind tagging along to take a look, but right now his mood was exceptionally poor; enduring to speak a few words to those people on the main hall with a peaceful mind was already his absolute limit.

"Your Highness, your body..." Shen Yang and Chief Steward Mo stood to the left and right behind Mo Xiu Yao, inquiring with deep concern.

Mo Xiu Yao raised his hand to stop him, shaking his head as he said, "This Prince is fine. Tell Feng Zhi Yao to abandon the imperial palace; Ah Li is not inside the palace."

Shen Yang raised an eyebrow and asked, "Your Highness is so certain the Princess Consort is still alive?"

"Since Ah Li went to visit Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi, she should have been together with her at that time. Even the skeletal remains of the Sixth Prince have been located, yet Ah Li is nowhere to be found... With Ah Li's skills, she would absolutely not be unable to escape Yaohua Palace. In that case..." Mo Xiu Yao knit his brows in deep thought. A massive fire had burned Yaohua Palace entirely clean; looking for any clues now was also impossible. The hidden guards had arrived outside Yaohua Palace at the very first moment the fire broke out, yet they had not seen Ah Li emerge. Furthermore, the fire at Yaohua Palace had spread far too quickly...

"Someone come."

"Your Highness." An ordinary and entirely unremarkable old eunuch appeared at an inconspicuous side doorway of the side hall, respectfully awaiting Mo Xiu Yao's commands.

Mo Xiu Yao said indifferently, "Go check if there are any secret passages or hidden mechanism chambers within Yaohua Palace. Additionally, look into whom Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi frequently interacted with during her lifetime. Finally... dispatch someone knowledgeable in medicine to examine the corpses of Consort Imperial Ye Zhao-yi and the Sixth Prince."

The old eunuch appeared entirely unsurprised by the matters Mo Xiu Yao commanded, his heavily wrinkled old face remaining completely serene as he said respectfully, "Your subordinate obeys the command and will absolutely not fail Your Highness's orders."

Mo Xiu Yao let out a soft snort, stating calmly, "This Prince will not pursue the responsibility for this incident. If the remaining matters are still not handled well, none of you need to come see this Prince ever again."

"Many thanks, Your Highness. Your subordinate takes his leave."

"Ah Li, this Prince knows you will be fine... absolutely!”