Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 173: The Reaction Triggered by the Imperial Edict
173. The Reaction to the Imperial Decree
"This humble official, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Liu Congyun, pays his respects to His Highness Prince Ding."
This time, the envoy who delivered the imperial decree was clearly different from the unfortunate official from the last time. Their status alone showed a stark contrast. A Vice Minister from the Liu Family, he was even accompanied by several military generals. Not to mention the three thousand elite soldiers and hundreds of bodyguards who had also come along but were stopped outside the city. Standing nearby, a sarcastic smile flashed in Feng Zhiyao’s eyes. What did Mo Jingqi mean by this? Mo Xiuyao, sitting above, still looked a bit pale, but one could not tell at all that he had been bedridden and unconscious just the day before. His previously white hair had turned pitch black thanks to the medicinal solution provided by Shenyang. Coupled with the faint smile on his handsome face, he hardly seemed like a man whose beloved wife had just fallen off a cliff and disappeared. Liu Congyun frowned slightly, his heart filled with unease at Prince Ding’s completely unexpected appearance. Thus, even though he had come with the imperial decree to reprimand Mo Xiuyao, he still respectfully stepped forward to greet him.
"Lord Liu, please rise." Mo Xiuyao smiled calmly, waved his hand towards a nearby seat, and said with a smile, "Please, Lord Liu, take a seat."
Liu Congyun glanced at Mo Xiuyao somewhat cautiously, but to no avail; he could see no hint of emotion in the other’s calm and profound eyes. Having no choice, he rose to express his appreciation and took a seat below Mo Xiuyao. Mo Xiuyao glanced at Feng Zhiyao nearby; Feng Zhiyao understood with a smile and sat across from Liu Congyun. Soon after, several generals stationed in Hongzhou City also arrived and took their seats at the lower end. Watching this scene, Liu Congyun’s smile stiffened somewhat. Mo Xiuyao casually set down his teacup and said to Liu Congyun with a smile, "Lord Liu, I’ve been a bit under the weather recently and couldn’t personally welcome the imperial envoy at the city gates. Please forgive me." Seeing Mo Xiuyao smile so amiably, Liu Congyun felt a chill creep into his heart. He quickly forced a smile and said, "Your Highness, you jest. Regarding the Princess Consort... the Princess Consort is a unique and remarkable woman in this world. A virtuous person will naturally be blessed by Heaven. Please rest assured, Your Highness."
Mo Xiuyao paused slightly, then quickly smiled again, nodding. "You’re right, Lord Liu. My Ah-Li is indeed a unique and remarkable woman in this world." Feng Zhiyao, also with an elegant smile, praised how virtuous, talented, and beautiful the Princess Consort was, and how she led the Mo Family Army to annihilate the Xiling forces with peerless strategy. This left Liu Congyun with no choice but to chime in, repeatedly praising Ye Li’s contributions. For a moment, he did not know how to bring up the main topic. Fortunately, Mo Xiuyao wasn’t sitting here just to have people endlessly praise his Princess Consort. Before Liu Congyun was lost for words, Mo Xiuyao smoothly changed the subject, "I remember Lord Liu is Prime Minister Liu’s eldest legitimate grandson? How has Prime Minister Liu been lately?"
Liu Congyun cautiously replied, "My grandfather is in good health, and he often worries about the hardships Your Highness endures while you are away on campaigns."
Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly and said, "When I was young, I also received much tutelage from Prime Minister Liu. I am also very gratified that the old Prime Minister is in good health. By the way, for His Majesty the Emperor to send Lord Liu, the future Family Head of the Liu Family, surely means there is an important matter. I hope I haven’t delayed Lord Liu’s official business?"
Liu Congyun repeatedly said he wouldn’t dare, feeling a faint bitterness in his mouth. The atmosphere was so congenial that he was somewhat unsure how to bring out the Emperor’s decree. He feared that if Mo Xiuyao hadn’t asked him directly, he might have dragged it out until the end without finding a chance to announce the decree. He certainly could have openly announced the decree the moment he arrived, but Liu Congyun, after all, was the eldest legitimate grandson of the Liu Family, groomed since childhood to be the future head, not comparable to an ordinary, mediocre talent. Liu Congyun absolutely did not believe there was nothing suspicious about Wang Jingchuan’s death. He also understood Wang Jingchuan’s character and conduct; therefore, he was even more cautious about this assignment he hadn’t wanted in the first place, not daring to show the slightest hint of triumph before Prince Ding.
Standing up, Liu Congyun cupped his hands towards Mo Xiuyao and said, "This humble official has indeed brought His Majesty’s decree. Please, His Highness Prince Ding, receive the decree?"
Mo Xiuyao smiled in response, but his body, leaning back in the chair, showed no intention of moving. Never mind rising to kneel and receive it, he didn’t even bother to sit up straight to show respect. Not only Mo Xiuyao, but also the generals seated below showed no reaction whatsoever. Liu Congyun’s lips twitched, but he pretended not to see. He was here to announce the decree, not to uphold the Emperor’s dignity. As long as he returned alive to the Capital City, he could report whatever he wanted before the Emperor. But the prerequisite was that he could announce the imperial decree and still return alive. Turning back, he took the bright yellow silk scroll from the brocade box held by an attendant, unrolled it, and read aloud, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao, has arbitrarily imposed private punishment and indiscriminately killed the innocent, truly an act of deceiving his sovereign and defying superiors. Considering the merits of his ancestors, I shall pardon his capital offense. His hereditary title of Prince Ding is reduced to Commendary Prince, and his stipend is forfeited for three years!"
The hall was utterly silent. Liu Congyun could feel the hostile gazes from those around him and the faint sweat on the palm holding the imperial decree. Striving to appear calm and composed on the surface, Liu Congyun folded the bright yellow silk scroll and stepped forward, saying, "Your Highness, please receive the decree." Mo Xiuyao flicked his sleeve lightly, and with a sweep of its hem, the bright yellow imperial decree landed in his hand in an instant. Mo Xiuyao opened it and looked at the familiar calligraphy, his handsome eyes narrowing slightly. As if lost in thought for a long while, the smile on his lips grew more pronounced, yet also more chilling to behold. Feng Zhiyao, sitting closest, pressed himself further into his chair, while the other generals all looked at their noses and their noses looked at their hearts, pretending to see nothing.
"Demoted...to a Commendary Prince, with a salary cut for three years?" Mo Xiuyao’s voice echoed quietly in the hall, seemingly tinged with a strange amusement. "Is this all His Majesty has to say? Hmm?"
Liu Congyun felt a knot of anxiety in his heart and respectfully said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has no other meaning. It’s just that... regarding this matter, His Majesty must provide an explanation to the world."
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Hasn’t His Majesty mentioned things like the military authority of the Mo Family Army... or the assets of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion—no... the Commendary Prince of Ding’s Mansion—which clearly exceed what a Commendary Prince’s mansion should possess?" Liu Congyun’s heart skipped a beat. His Majesty had indeed mentioned these and hinted that Liu Congyun should try his best to reclaim them from Prince Ding. He even promised that if successful, Liu Congyun would certainly be promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. However, Liu Congyun never intended to bring this up with Prince Ding from the start. Compared to the position of Minister he was bound to obtain sooner or later, not angering Prince Ding and returning alive was far more important. Although the Liu Family had always been loyal to the Emperor, in Liu Congyun’s mind, pleading guilty to the Emperor for mishandling affairs was far easier than angering Prince Ding. Forcing a smile, Liu Congyun said, "This... His Majesty did not mention it in the decree, and this humble official dares not speculate on the imperial will. His Majesty surely has his own judgment."
Mo Xiuyao nodded, concurring, "Lord Liu speaks very reasonably. Logically... now that His Majesty has issued a decree reducing my rank, we as subjects should tactfully hand over those things ourselves. It’s just unfortunate that... the things in my hands are truly... inconvenient to hand over casually. However... this title of Prince Ding can be returned to His Majesty. Could I trouble Lord Liu to convey to His Majesty that whether it’s a Prince of the Blood or a Commendary Prince, I don’t really care. In exchange for retaining the Mo Family Army and the Mo Family’s ancestral properties, His Majesty can revoke all my titles. What do you think?" Liu Congyun’s face changed; he naturally understood the meaning behind Mo Xiuyao’s words. To Mo Xiuyao, it didn’t matter at all whether he was Prince Ding or not. Even if he were a mere commoner, the Mo Family Army would still listen to him alone, and the properties of Prince Ding’s Mansion would still only be managed by him. The so-called title of Prince Ding was merely an empty name. If Mo Xiuyao wished, he could enfeoff himself as any kind of prince he desired.
"Your Highness, please calm down. His Majesty has no such intention..."
Mo Xiuyao sneered, "No such intention? Then may I ask Lord Liu, what about the 600,000 troops secretly mobilized sixty li outside Ruyang City at Feihong Pass? And how is it that in the south, Mo Jingli, Nanzhao, and the Xiling armies are advancing towards the Northwest unimpeded and in concert?"
"This... this... This humble official does not know. Please forgive me, Your Highness." Liu Congyun was greatly alarmed; he hadn’t expected Prince Ding to be so clearly aware of these secret troop movements. And he even knew the exact numbers so clearly. Looking at his pale face, Mo Xiuyao offered some apologetic reassurance: "Rest assured, Lord Liu, this time I will ensure you return safely. By the way, please trouble yourself to tell Marquis Muyang when you return... He has two good sons, it’s a pity he himself is too capable of ruining them. Seeing as Mu Yang is a filial son, I will let you take Mu Yang back with you. As for Marquis Muyang... let him wait in Ruyang City. I will claim his life!"
"Your Highness..." Liu Congyun was at a loss for words. Mo Xiuyao said with a smile, "Of course... that’s provided Marquis Muyang is still alive when Lord Liu rushes back."
"What does Your Highness mean by this?" Liu Congyun asked stiffly.
Mo Xiuyao tilted his head and smiled, "The Mo Family Army has a collective wish to apprehend the culprit responsible for the disappearance of their Mistress of House, my beloved Princess Consort, and to avenge her. I am deeply moved and find it hard to refuse the soldiers’ loyalty. Don’t you agree, Lord Liu?" Liu Congyun’s face changed drastically. He drew a sharp breath, feeling a heart-wrenching pain. Earlier, when he had entered the city, he had indeed noticed some troop movements, but he had assumed it was a precaution against Xiling reinforcements and the tripartite allied forces currently pressing from inside the pass. He never imagined that Prince Ding actually intended to attack Ruyang! "Your Highness, please reconsider! The Great Chu is currently in widespread military turmoil. Please, Your Highness, prioritize the land of Great Chu!"
Mo Xiuyao’s eyes tilted upwards slightly, as if in mockery or incomprehension, as he looked at him and said, "Prioritize the land? What is that?"
Liu Congyun felt as though he was about to cough up a mouthful of blood. Hearing such words coming from the mouth of the Prince of Ding Kingdom, who had guarded Great Chu for generations, was truly enough to make one spurt blood. Feng Zhiyao, standing nearby, couldn’t help the twitching at the corners of his mouth and quickly suppressed it. His Highness must have learned this from the Princess Consort, right? This is clearly the Princess Consort’s occasional way of speaking. Then, thinking of a certain person whose life or death was currently unknown, the upward curve of his lips gradually flattened. Liu Congyun said gravely, "Your Highness, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion has guarded Great Chu for generations. Your Highness must not, because of a moment of anger, destroy both the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion and the land of Great Chu."
Mo Xiuyao indifferently held his teacup and said, "Oh? The land of Great Chu? Isn’t that Mo Jingqi’s affair? As for the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion that has guarded Great Chu for generations... I am now not the Prince of Ding Kingdom but the Commendary Prince of Ding. Perhaps in a couple of days, I’ll be an ordinary commoner." Liu Congyun tried hard to persuade him earnestly. Unfortunately, the one being persuaded was completely unconcerned. In the end, Liu Congyun could only helplessly take his leave with his men. He had to return to the Capital City immediately to report this news to the Emperor.
Observing Liu Congyun’s hasty departure, Mo Xiuyao made no moves to stop him. He glanced at the imperial decree in his hand, scoffed, and casually tossed the bright yellow silk scroll to a corner of the hall. Feng Zhiyao rose with a smile and said, "Your Highness, even if you find it an eyesore, there’s no need to throw it away. The cloth on which that decree is written is the finest silk, made by the best dyers and weavers. Ordinary people wouldn’t even dream of touching a piece of it in their entire lives." Mo Xiuyao nodded, agreeing, "That makes sense. Then let’s hang it on the city gate outside for all the passing commoners to feast their eyes on, shall we?" Feng Zhiyao picked up the silk scroll from the floor, looked at Mo Xiuyao, and asked, "Your Highness, are you really letting Liu Congyun and Mu Yang leave just like that?" The generals present also looked towards Mo Xiuyao, clearly sharing this doubt. Mo Xiuyao said with a smile, "Let them go, why not? Liu Congyun... is smarter than his father and his grandfather. He has already humbled himself to this extent; if I were to still make a move against him, wouldn’t it make me seem narrow-minded?" Of course, Liu Congyun is also more ambitious than his father and grandfather. Mo Jingqi, keeping such a subject who can bend and stretch, and who has such a large family backing him... I’d like to see how you, even without the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, can achieve harmony between ruler and minister and create a story for the ages.
"What about Mu Yang..." Mentioning Mu Yang made Feng Zhiyao grit his teeth. It wasn’t that he had any personal issue with Mu Yang, but rather Mu Yang’s father, Marquis Muyang. This time, although Marquis Muyang didn’t personally lead the Great Chu troops that pursued the Princess Consort, he was the one who commanded them. Similarly, they were also very clear about the full content of the imperial decree Marquis Muyang received from Mo Jingqi. Under such circumstances, killing Mu Yang would have been a very logical thing to do. So Feng Zhiyao completely didn’t understand why His Highness wanted to let Mu Yang go back to Marquis Muyang.
A glint of cold light flashed in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes as he said lightly, "This person Mu Yang, I still have use for him. And Marquis Muyang... have your men be careful not to let him actually die on the battlefield."
Seeing that Mo Xiuyao clearly had his own plans, although he didn’t know what they were, Feng Zhiyao didn’t inquire further. However, occasionally looking up and seeing a fleeting red glint in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes, Feng Zhiyao silently lamented for Marquis Muyang in his heart. Being targeted by His Highness, perhaps dying on the battlefield would be the best fate for Marquis Muyang?
Mo Xiuyao stood up, the gentle smile on his face transformed into a solemn and dignified expression. The generals who had been seated immediately rose in unison, respectfully awaiting His Highness’s orders.
Mo Xiuyao’s gaze lingered on the blue sky outside the hall, his voice distant and solemn, "Issue the order to the entire army... All divisions currently engaged with Nanzhao and Xiling are to withdraw completely. Converge towards Ruyang City. With Feihong Pass as the demarcation line, within ten days, I want to see the entire Mo Family Army fully assembled!"
"Yes, Your Highness." Everyone responded in unison, without the slightest doubt about such a decision. Feng Zhiyao stepped out and asked, "Your Highness... the court’s garrison troops in Ruyang and other areas..."
"Expel them all. Those who resist, kill!"
