Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 270 - 268. Provoke Dissension

268. Sowing Discord

Noble Consort Liu’s ordeal in the teahouse, naturally, was unknown to common folk. However, some privileged individuals were aware of it. Take Mo Jingli, for example. News of Noble Consort Liu’s embarrassing exit from the teahouse had already reached what used to be Prince Li’s Mansion, now the Regent Prince’s Mansion. To be fair, even though Mo Jingli wasn’t very likable, he was significantly more personable than Mo Jingqi. Over the years, Mo Jingqi’s suppression of the imperial princes and relatives had been relentless, leaving them rather indifferent towards him. Even though everyone knew Mo Jingqi’s illness must have something to do with Mo Jingli, no one had ever spoken a word in Mo Jingqi’s defense. On the other hand, ever since Mo Jingli assumed the role of Regent Prince, he had been courteous towards these kinsmen, which significantly improved his relationship with them.

When the news reached Prince Li’s Mansion, Prince Yu, Mo Jingyu, happened to be there drinking tea. Mo Jingli candidly passed the letter to Mo Jingyu after reading it. Mo Jingyu was pleased with Mo Jingli’s trust in him but looked perturbed after reading. He slammed the letter on the table, asking, "What in the world are Noble Consort Liu and the Liu Family thinking? A concubine from deep within the palace has so audaciously ventured out of the Capital City to pay respects to the ancestors of Prince Ding’s Mansion. Who does she think she is? She even had the gall to obstruct Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding on the street and invite them for tea. Does the royal family have any dignity left?"

Mo Jingli replied coldly, "Noble Consort Liu—it’s not like we don’t know her. What can she have in mind besides her feelings for Mo Xiuyao?"

Mo Jingyu evidently remembered. Back in the day, Noble Consort Liu’s infatuation with Mo Xiuyao was the envy of all the young nobles in the Capital City. However, Mo Xiuyao, the object of her affection, seemed oblivious, and nobody dared mention it in his presence. A young, unmarried woman’s admiration for a man, despite being somewhat detrimental to her reputation, could be considered a romantic tale if they were a perfect match. But for a married woman over thirty to still be obsessively pestering a man was simply shameless, akin to adultery.

"Has she lost her mind? With a wife like Princess Consort Ding, how blind must Prince Ding be to take an interest in her?" Although not deeply acquainted, Mo Jingyu held a certain fondness for Ye Li, Princess Consort Ding. It was rare to find women like Princess Consort Ding, not just in the present world but throughout all of history. Her unwavering devotion to Prince Ding, despite his disability and his entanglement in the power struggles of the Capital City, was admirable enough to earn anyone’s respect. After speaking, Mo Jingyu felt he might have overstepped and glanced apologetically at Mo Jingli—the one who had been blind back then. Otherwise, a woman like Princess Consort Ding wouldn’t have ended up with Prince Ding; she would have become Princess Consort Li.

Mo Jingli shook his head to show he didn’t mind, his icy eyes slightly lowered to hide any flickers of emotion. After so many years, he was no longer the rash young lad who had clamored to break off the engagement. He had come to a realization over time. His initial haste in clamoring to break off the engagement was, to be sure, half due to himself, but the other half was due to his imperial brother’s subtle instigation. Mo Jingqi had believed that as they were both legitimate sons of the late Emperor, the Xu Family might help him rather than Mo Xiuyao. Little did he know that he himself would end up driving the Xu Family into Mo Xiuyao’s hands. If it wasn’t for him... Remembering the woman in green he had seen in the inn’s backyard that day, Mo Jingli felt a pang in his heart. Such a serene, graceful, and naturally magnanimous woman should have been his wife! His resentment towards Mo Jingqi intensified.

"Is Noble Consort Liu trying to lure Prince Ding into collaborating with her? If Prince Ding agrees... it would surely be detrimental to Prince Li." No matter what, everyone in Great Chu would be wary of Mo Xiuyao. Even though he now had nothing to do with Great Chu, the prestige that Prince Ding’s Mansion had established over centuries among the common people and the nobility was irreplaceable and awe-inspiring.

"No," Mo Jingli refuted, "Mo Xiuyao would not collaborate with her."

Mo Jingyu thought about it, then grinned, "True. If Prince Ding had agreed, Noble Consort Liu would not have left looking so dispirited."

Mo Jingli smiled, "Mo Xiuyao is inherently proud; he would never collaborate with his enemies. Even though... Noble Consort Liu doesn’t really have anything to do with those past events, her son is Mo Jingqi’s son. Moreover, Princess Consort Ding might seem gentle and poised, but she is just as proud as Mo Xiuyao. I can guess a thing or two about the demands Noble Consort Liu would make for cooperation, and Ye Li would never agree to them."

Watching Mo Jingli speak with such confidence, Mo Jingyu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. He must have regretted it to understand Princess Consort Ding so well and to speak of her in such a manner. Unfortunately, once certain opportunities pass, no amount of regret can bring them back. After giving it some thought, Mo Jingyu couldn’t help but warn, "Prince Li, this is not the time to provoke Prince Ding." Given Mo Jingli’s past recklessness—daring to break off an engagement decreed by the late Emperor due to a moment of infatuation with Ye Ying—Mo Jingyu feared that Mo Jingli might impulsively do something to provoke Mo Xiuyao’s irremediable wrath over Princess Consort Ding.

Mo Jingli blinked, then smiled faintly, "I know my limits. There’s no need for you to worry, Prince Yu. Indeed, now is not the time to provoke Mo Xiuyao. We should treat him courteously during his stay in the Capital City, and nobody from the Regent Prince’s Mansion should provoke him." Mo Jingyu nodded in agreement. His own Prince Yu’s Mansion had always kept a low profile, so they certainly wouldn’t dare to provoke Mo Xiuyao.

"However, just because we won’t provoke him doesn’t mean others won’t," Mo Jingli sneered.

"Huh?" Mo Jingyu was taken aback.

Mo Jingli said in a deep voice, "Reveal the news to Mo Jingqi. Tell him... the person he fears the most, Mo Xiuyao, has returned to the Capital City." Mo Jingyu remained silent, quietly looking at Mo Jingli. Are you trying to scare Mo Jingqi to death?

Mo Jingli didn’t care about Mo Jingyu’s gaze and said coldly, "That woman, Noble Consort Liu—only Mo Xiuyao exists in her heart and eyes; she is not to be feared. Have someone keep a close watch on that old fellow from the Liu Family. I heard that he’s been getting a bit cozy with Prince Virtue these days?"

Mo Jingyu nodded, sighing somewhat helplessly, "Prince Virtue is getting old; his vision is blurred by age, I suppose. However, Noble Consort Liu’s son was personally appointed as the Crown Prince by His Majesty. It’s understandable for Prince Virtue to get close to them."

Mo Jingli sneered, "Foolish! Do you think Noble Consort Liu would passively let her son become the Emperor? Do you really think that old man of the Liu Family will honestly play the role of a loyal, virtuous official?"

Mo Jingyu frowned, "The Crown Prince is Noble Consort Liu’s own son, after all. It couldn’t be that extreme, surely."

Mo Jingli looked at him and said, "You haven’t been very close with the palace over the years. Why don’t you go in and find someone to inquire about how Noble Consort Liu treats the Crown Prince and her other two imperial children? When she becomes the Empress Dowager..."

Mo Jingyu said seriously, "What more could she want as the Empress Dowager?" As a woman, becoming the Empress Dowager is already the most honored status in the world. What more could Noble Consort Liu want?

Mo Jingli said, "I’m afraid that in Noble Consort Liu’s eyes... the position of ten Empress Dowagers is not as precious as being Princess Consort Ding."

"What?" Mo Jingyu was taken aback and, suddenly reacting, fiercely threw the teacup in his hand onto the ground. "Wench!"

Mo Jingli raised an eyebrow and smiled. It was indeed the truth.

「In the Imperial Palace」

The lavish sleeping quarters were eerily quiet, filled with an air of decadence and decay. Mo Jingqi lay on the bed, unable to move. His once-handsome face had aged at least a decade. A man in his thirties, he looked like a patient nearing the end of his life. He did not know what poison Mo Jingli had given him, but he was sure it wasn’t Five-Stone Powder. Five-Stone Powder didn’t have such potent toxicity. Ever since he stopped taking it, he had endured bone-eroding, heart-piercing pain every day, and this pain had not diminished even though he had stopped taking the medicine for many days. On the contrary, his body seemed to grow weaker and weaker every day.

Even now, the slightest movement sent pain through all his internal organs. I don’t have much time left, Mo Jingqi knew. But I’m unwilling to accept this! My whole life has been spent scheming and plotting, living in constant fear, never experiencing a single peaceful day. Now, Mo Xiuyao is entrenched in the Northwest, Mo Jingli has effectively occupied the Southeast, barbarian soldiers are at the gates of the Northern Territory, and Xiling and Beirong are eyeing us covetously. With all these ongoing problems, I can’t let go. I don’t know what Great Chu will become after my death; I don’t dare to face the ancestors of Great Chu.

"Someone..." Mo Jingqi called in a hoarse voice.

There was silence in the sleeping quarters; no one responded after a while. Mo Jingqi stared for a moment, then suddenly began to laugh bitterly. As he laughed, tears streamed down his face. It was only after I was poisoned that I realized I had failed so badly as a person. None of my royal relatives stepped forward on my behalf; the court officials were busy fighting and taking sides. My mother, the Empress Dowager, had visited me two or three times after I was poisoned and then stopped coming. Even my trusted eunuchs and palace maids have disappeared. Every day I face the empty sleeping quarters alone, as if I’m watching my own internal organs gradually rot and die. He let out a hollow laugh.

"Someone! Someone... I... I need water..." Mo Jingqi croaked.

A teacup decorated with dragon and phoenix motifs was brought forward. Mo Jingli, dressed in dark python robes and holding the tea, stood before the bed. He bent down, helped Mo Jingqi up, and brought the water to his lips. Mo Jingqi was indeed terribly thirsty and, not bothering with much else, lowered his head and gulped down more than half the cup before he could even catch his breath. Laying Mo Jingqi back down, Mo Jingli turned, placed the cup back on the nearby table, and then slowly walked back.

"What are you here for now?" Mo Jingqi said coldly.

Mo Jingli calmly sat down and said, "I am here to deliver some good news, brother. Someone who can deal with me has come to the Capital City. Do you consider that good news?"

"Who?" Mo Jingqi had no interest in his cryptic speech. He could not think of anyone who would be capable of dealing with the powerful Mo Jingli.

Mo Jingli smirked and said, "Mo Xiuyao. Mo Xiuyao is back, brother. Aren’t you overjoyed?"

"Mo...Mo Xiuyao?! Why did he return? Why didn’t you order him to be captured?!" Mo Jingqi was shocked and yelled out in anger. However, the yelling was immediately followed by a violent fit of coughing. Witnessing his brother clutching the side of the bed, his face pale and contorted in pain, a flash of pity crossed Mo Jingli’s eyes. He said indifferently, "Capture him? Brother...do you think I’ve gone mad? Great Chu currently faces enemies on all sides; the Northern Territory is already hard to manage. If we start a war with the Mo Family Army, Xiling and Beirong would inevitably seize the opportunity to invade. What would we do then?"

"Mo Xiuyao is also our enemy!" Mo Jingqi declared vehemently.

"Right now, Mo Xiuyao is only your enemy," Mo Jingli stated lightly, looking down at him. "You killed Mo Xiuwen. All those soldiers of the Mo Family Army who died at the border were due to your actions. Mo Xiuyao was severely injured by you, and Princess Consort Ding being besieged and attacked in the Capital City was also at your command. Brother...who else would Mo Xiuyao seek other than you? He was in the Northwest and heard you were about to die, so he hurried back to the Capital City. Do you know why? He said... he came to see you off. If you want Mo Xiuyao to leave the Capital of Great Chu sooner, you better... hurry up and die."

"You..."

Mo Jingli looked at him coldly and continued, "Oh, there is another piece of news I forgot to tell you. Your beloved consort, the mother consort of our Great Chu’s Crown Prince, already sought out Mo Xiuyao. Do you know what she said to him?"

Mo Jingqi partly closed his eyes, clearly not wanting to hear anymore. He understood Mo Jingli’s strategy; he was trying to torment him.

Whether he was listening or not didn’t bother Mo Jingli. "Noble Consort Liu said that as long as Mo Xiuyao could help her deal with me, she is willing to share the land with Prince Ding. It seems... even without me, whether the Crown Prince that you chose can ascend to the throne or not is still an unknown."

At his words, the color drained from Mo Jingqi’s face, and his body convulsed uncontrollably. He glared at Mo Jingli. "You...are lying!"

"Lying?" Mo Jingli scoffed. "It was well known throughout the Capital City that Noble Consort Liu had fallen for Mo Xiuyao even before she entered the palace. If you do not believe me, perhaps you should send someone to check if Noble Consort Liu is still in the palace and what time she left. Don’t worry though, imperial brother; Mo Xiuyao doesn’t fancy your beloved consort and has already rejected her. This very noon, many people personally saw Noble Consort Liu emerging from the teahouse, utterly crestfallen."

"You’re lying... lying!" Mo Jingqi shouted in rage. Mo Jingli disregarded him and turned to leave.

As he left the sleeping quarters, before reaching the imperial garden, he encountered Noble Consort Liu approaching him.

Upon seeing Noble Consort Liu, as beautiful as ice and snow, there was no admiration or appreciation in Mo Jingli’s eyes. He had always despised those who were arrogant and proud, no matter how stunningly beautiful they were. Naturally, Noble Consort Liu held no good feelings for Mo Jingli either. She asked coldly, "Where is His Highness Prince Li going?"

Mo Jingli forced a smile and replied lightly, "I am about to return to my mansion. Where is Her Highness Noble Consort heading?"

Noble Consort Liu said, "Just taking a stroll."

Mo Jingli arched a brow. "Oh? Her Highness Noble Consort isn’t going to see His Majesty?"

Noble Consort Liu originally planned to go see Mo Jingqi, hoping to probe for some information she could use against Mo Jingli. However, she obviously couldn’t say that in front of Mo Jingli. She said impassively, "His Majesty did not summon me to look after him. Wouldn’t it be bothering his recovery if I were to go uninvited?"

"Is that so? Noble Consort is indeed thoughtful. With that, I will take my leave first." Mo Jingli looked at her with a cryptic smile, then left.

Watching the retreating figure of Mo Jingli, annoyance flashed across Noble Consort Liu’s face. How dare Prince Li be so disrespectful to me!

"Your Highness?" The eunuch nearby asked tentatively.

Noble Consort Liu furrowed her brows and asked, "Go and find out if Prince Li just went to see His Majesty."

The eunuch hurried off. He quickly came back and reported in a low voice, "Your Highness is wise. Prince Li indeed just came out from His Majesty’s sleeping chambers, and now he seems to be heading for Zhangde Palace."

Thinking of the Empress Dowager, who had never shown her a friendly face, Noble Consort Liu’s expression turned colder, and she huffed coldly. That old crone dares to challenge me?! She’s dreaming!

The eunuch fawned over her with a laugh, "Your Highness is right. You are the birth mother of His Highness the Crown Prince. When he ascends the throne, you will be the rightful Empress Dowager. Oh yes, Your Highness... this slave just heard that His Majesty has lifted the restrictions on Her Highness the Empress, and he has also promoted Attendant Concubine Zhou to Consort Virtue, and Zheng Zhaoyuan to Consort Wise."

"What?! When did this happen?!" Noble Consort Liu’s face changed, and she asked in a deep voice.

The eunuch knew the matter was serious and quickly replied, "Just now. When this old slave went to inquire, the imperial decree was just being delivered to Her Highness the Empress’s palace."

How could this happen? If I go now... No, it’s too late! Why would His Majesty suddenly issue this decree? Could it be... Prince Li? Noble Consort Liu’s heart tightened, and she quickly made her way towards Mo Jingqi’s sleeping chamber. Although she didn’t pay much heed to the Empress and a few unfavored concubines, Zheng Zhaoyuan had a son, already eight years old this year, born intelligent and clever, and deeply favored by His Majesty. That was why, despite not being favored by His Majesty, Zheng Zhaoyuan was still conferred the title of Zhaoyuan and had now been promoted to Consort Wise, one of the Four Consorts. If these women, along with the Empress, were to unite, it would be extremely disadvantageous for her and the Liu Family.

She rushed to the entrance of the sleeping chamber, only to be stopped. Noble Consort Liu’s face turned cold as she said, "What is the meaning of this? I want to see His Majesty!"

The guards there were all Mo Jingli’s men, placed there to make Noble Consort Liu uncomfortable. Naturally, they would not give way easily. The guard standing in front of Noble Consort Liu said solemnly, "Forgive us, Your Highness. His Majesty has ordered us to wait for Her Highness the Empress, along with Consort Virtue and Consort Wise, to come and express their gratitude. Aside from them, no other unauthorized persons are to be admitted."

"And what if I insist on entering?" Noble Consort Liu threatened in a chilling voice.

The guard was not faint-hearted, responding in a deep voice, "His Majesty has decreed that anyone who dares to forcefully enter the sleeping chamber will be charged with trespassing against the imperial presence."

Noble Consort Liu gritted her teeth, on the verge of erupting in anger, when a eunuch’s announcement was heard from afar, "Her Highness the Empress has arrived!"

Watching the Empress, dressed in a bright yellow phoenix robe and exuding magnificence, slowly descend from the phoenix sedan, Noble Consort Liu frowned slightly. Aside from when Mo Jingqi had suddenly fallen ill last time, she hadn’t seen the Empress in a long time. The years of the Empress’s confinement had nearly made her forget about this woman. But now, she had reappeared, as radiant and regal as ever, making Noble Consort Liu feel distinctly overshadowed.

The Empress descended from the phoenix sedan, frowning as she looked at the standoff before her and asked, "What’s going on here?"