Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 278 - 276. Tenth Prince Mo Suyun
276. Tenth Prince, Mo Suyun
Leng Haoyu and Murong Ting couldn’t have traveled here merely to pay a social call. After they were seated, Leng Haoyu furrowed his brow and said, "Our people sent news that the Liu Family seems to know about Mo Jingli’s son."
Feng Zhiyao had just returned to the Capital of Great Chu and was not aware of the events that had transpired during her absence. Confused, she asked, "Mo Jingli’s son? The one born to Ye Ying? Was he kidnapped?" Leng Haoyu clapped his hands and laughed, "Your information is rather out of date. Mo Jingli recently became the Regent Prince, only to return home and kick his own son to death. Although this news has been suppressed and not widely publicized, the majority of the Capital City’s influential figures are aware."
Feng Zhiyao raised her eyebrows; she wasn’t a fool and quickly pieced things together. She laughed and said, "So... Mo Jingli has been raising someone else’s child for several years? What’s the situation now? Is his biological son in the Liu Family’s custody?"
"Ah-Li, what do you think?" Mo Xiuyao turned to ask Ye Li.
Ye Li frowned thoughtfully and said, "I don’t think it’s highly likely. Mo Jingqi was always cautious and suspicious, never trusting even those closest to him. Mo Jingli spent so much time and energy yet couldn’t find any clues, which proves Mo Jingqi handled it very thoroughly back then. It stands to reason that the Liu Family couldn’t have found him. And... the timing is a bit too coincidental." The fact that the Liu Family revealed news about Prince Li’s Mansion’s only son just as Mo Jingqi passed away, before the new Emperor ascended the throne, truly makes one think.
Mo Xiuyao glanced at Leng Haoyu, who shrugged and replied, "They haven’t obtained specific news either. It’s just that the Liu Family has been making quite a few moves in secret recently, and we can only vaguely tell it’s related to Mo Jingli’s son. But whether that child is indeed Mo Jingli’s son still requires time to confirm." Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "There’s no need for any further investigation. It would be a waste of time."
Leng Haoyu looked at him, puzzled. Mo Xiuyao asked, "Whether it is or isn’t, what significance does it hold for us?"
Hearing this, all of them paused. Indeed. Wasn’t that the case? They had no intention of getting involved in these matters. Whether or not the child was Mo Jingli’s son was of no importance to them. Mo Xiuyao stood up, looked at Leng Haoyu, and smiled, "With that kind of effort, you’d be better off investigating the situation in the Northern Territory. Anyway, Third Feng is also in the Capital City now, and your businesses in the Capital City have closed down. Why not take a trip to Zijing Pass instead?"
This piqued Leng Haoyu’s interest. Zijing Pass was currently in the heat of battle. Although there were Shadow Guards providing covert protection, he was still somewhat worried about the Shadow Guards protecting Leng Huai.
"I’ll go as well," Murong Ting quickly added.
Although Leng Haoyu was a member of Prince Ding’s Mansion, Murong Ting was not. Mo Xiuyao naturally couldn’t dictate Murong Ting’s actions; this was Leng Haoyu’s family matter. Leng Haoyu hesitated and said, "Zijing Pass is currently in the middle of a battle. It’s too dangerous." Murong Ting scoffed, "You think I’ve never seen a battlefield before? I grew up on the border with my father since childhood. Besides, hadn’t I also participated in the defense of Yonglin City back then?"
"Junhan would be in the Capital City alone without anyone looking after him. Can you bear that?" Leng Haoyu continued to persuade.
Murong Ting frowned; this truly was a problem. Her son had not been away from her side since his birth. When her gaze landed on Ye Li, who was sitting to one side, Murong Ting’s eyes lit up. She looked at Ye Li expectantly, "Li’er..." Ye Li smiled, covering her lips, and replied, "As long as you’re not afraid of Junhan being bullied by Chen’er, feel free to send him over. Taking care of one child is the same as taking care of two. Besides, although Mo Xiaobao can be clingy sometimes, his ability to take care of himself is quite good, and he doesn’t require much of their attention at all." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
However, for some reason, Mo Xiaobao was certain that Leng Junhan was a soft, pinchable little bun he could bully. Whenever they met, he would either pinch him or poke him. Ye Li suspected Mo Xiaobao might be transferring the resentment from being bullied by his father onto Leng Junhan. Every time she saw the fair-skinned, soft, young Junhan being bullied by Mo Xiaobao, tears welling up in his eyes but stubbornly refusing to fall, Ye Li’s heart would ache with pity. Yet, Leng Junhan was convinced Mo Xiaobao was a good older brother, forgetting all about being bullied as soon as it was over. The next time they met, he would still affectionately call him "Brother Yuchen, Brother Yuchen." No wonder Mo Xiaobao called him Leng Xiaodai. That adorably dazed look of his made even his father, Leng Haoyu, want to cover his face. How much bad karma did I accrue to end up with such a dazed son?
"No worries. Junhan is just too spoiled by us. His personality is so soft, I don’t know who he takes after. It’s perfect to leave him at your place to help me discipline him properly," Murong Ting said magnanimously, waving her hand.
Her Ladyship had made up her mind, and Leng Haoyu, as a henpecked husband, could only obey. However, he still had some awareness as a father. Looking at Mo Xiuyao, he urged, "Please ensure the Young Heir doesn’t bully my son too much." Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. Was this something he could control? He was Prince Ding, not a wet nurse for children.
"Second Leng, you don’t think this Prince is sending you to visit relatives, do you?" Seeing Leng Haoyu’s conflicted expression, Mo Xiuyao said lightly. As an outstanding and capable subordinate, shouldn’t you strive to understand every action and decision of your superior? What’s with this look of being eager to visit relatives, reluctant to leave your child, joyful yet worried?
Leng Haoyu helplessly lowered his head. He knew it wouldn’t be this easy. "I respectfully await Your Highness’s instructions."
Mo Xiuyao curved his lips slightly. "Instructions won’t be necessary. If, within half a year, the Northern Territory’s army takes even one step into Zijing Pass, you don’t need to come back. You can go hang yourself from a southeast branch. Also... this Prince is a man who cherishes talent. Hmm?" Leng Haoyu’s expression changed, and he looked at Mo Xiuyao with some delight. Mo Xiuyao smiled without speaking. Leng Haoyu declared loudly, "Your Highness, rest assured. Your subordinate will definitely not betray Your Highness’s painstaking efforts."
"Go on. Don’t worry about your son. If you can’t make it back in time, this Prince can also take him back to the Northwest. It just so happens that Mr. Qingyun is currently free and can help you teach him a thing or two."
Both Leng Haoyu and Murong Ting were overjoyed. Ever since they had children, they had always resided in the Capital City. In fact, this was not beneficial for Leng Haoyu’s many affairs, but he was not reassured to let Murong Ting take care of the child alone. If Leng Junhan were taken back to the Northwest, safety would naturally not be a concern. To be personally tutored by Mr. Qingyun was an advantage that others couldn’t obtain even if they begged for it. Second Young Master Leng clearly attributed Heir Mo Junior’s cleverness, wit, and wisdom to Mr. Qingyun’s excellent teaching.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
「The next morning」
Leng Haoyu and Murong Ting secretly departed for Zijing Pass. The two of them were not highly regarded in the Leng Family, and even fewer people in the Capital City paid them any mind, so their departure didn’t attract anyone’s attention. That evening, Leng Junhan was sent to Prince Ding’s Mansion. Although the four-year-old tot was a bit hurt about leaving his parents, after hearing that he would be living with Brother Xiaobao, Leng Xiaodai quickly cast aside the departure of his parents and expressed his desire to sleep with Brother Yuchen in the future. Seeing his own son’s rare expression, as if he had swallowed a fly, Prince Ding was very pleased and agreed to the little Leng child’s request. He also signaled Mo Xiaobao to take excellent care of his little brother and not let him suffer the slightest grievance.
Thus, the days in Prince Ding’s Mansion passed leisurely in the joy of Mo Xiaobao and Leng Xiaodai’s daily games of chase, hide-and-seek, and you-bully-me-I-giggle-foolishly. As for the occasional news, such as the Tenth Prince, who had yet to ascend the throne, being assassinated several times; the Empress Dowager, unwilling to be buried with the late Emperor, causing some new trouble; or the Liu Family and Prince Li’s Mansion having several secret clashes—these matters were all disregarded by the people of Prince Ding’s Mansion.
「In the blink of an eye, the day of the new Emperor’s ascension arrived.」
Mo Jingqi’s coffin had been moved to a side hall in the westernmost part of the imperial city for temporary placement. Perhaps it was because Mo Jingqi never believed he would die so young that his imperial mausoleum had not yet been completed. And the time required for the mausoleums of successive emperors was not something that could be completed in a day or two. Therefore, Mo Jingqi could not be buried in the short term and could only be temporarily placed in a palace hall. Only after the imperial mausoleum was completed would an auspicious day be chosen to send the imperial coffin into the imperial mausoleum.
The ascension of a new emperor in Great Chu had always been an occasion for congratulations from all directions. Even when Mo Jingqi ascended the throne, though Regent Prince Mo Liufang had passed away, Great Chu still had Mo Xiuwen supporting it, as well as the young and renowned general Mo Xiuyao, whose fame spread far and wide. The entire Great Chu was still considered quite stable and strong. Surrounding countries, including Xiling, naturally sent envoys to offer congratulations. But this time, apart from Nanzhao and a few very small surrounding countries sending envoys, there was no news from the neighboring Xiling and Beirong. A mere seven-year-old emperor, with two opposing factions in the imperial court, each with their own agendas. Prince Ding’s Mansion had also long since separated from Great Chu. The two major powers, Xiling and Beirong, indeed had reason not to take them seriously. Moreover, they currently had no mind to congratulate the new monarch of Great Chu; they were now eyeing Great Chu, this piece of fat meat, with predatory gaze.
The Tenth Prince’s enthronement ceremony was set for March 12th, a reasonably auspicious day. Prince Ding’s Mansion had, of course, received an invitation early. And a few days before the enthronement ceremony, Ye Li was summoned to the palace by the Empress.
This was not the first time Ye Li had seen the Tenth Prince. This child, who had previously lived quietly like a shadow in a corner of the palace, was suddenly pushed into the most conspicuous position after Mo Jingqi’s death. For the past half-month, he had been thoroughly terrified. When Ye Li saw him, he was nestled in his birth mother’s arms, sleeping soundly. Just looking at his sallow, emaciated little face, it was clear he had not been faring well these days. Upon hearing Ye Li’s footsteps, the Tenth Prince immediately opened his eyes, his dazed eyes filled with alarm and fear. He whimpered twice and was about to burst into tears. His birth mother, panicking, quickly covered his mouth, looking at Ye Li and the Empress, at a loss for what to do.
The Empress frowned and sighed helplessly, "Please let him go. Princess Consort Ding won’t hold it against a child."
The woman, dressed in magnificent attire but with an ordinary appearance, cautiously removed her hand from the Tenth Prince’s mouth. She glanced uneasily at Ye Li before softly coaxing the Tenth Prince in her arms. The Tenth Prince cried for a while, seemed tired, and then drifted off into a drowsy sleep again. The Empress wanted to have someone take him to rest but worried about waking him again. Ye Li walked over and pressed a few acupoints on the Tenth Prince’s body, then said softly, "Take him to rest. If you’re careful, he won’t wake up."
"Th-Thank you... Thank you, Princess Consort Ding." After thanking Ye Li tremblingly, she took the Tenth Prince into the rear hall to rest.
Watching them leave, Ye Li raised an eyebrow and asked the Empress, "What happened?"
The Empress gave a bitter smile. "What else could it be? This child... I initially thought the Sixth Prince was arrogant and unruly, spoiled by others, and I feared he would be unfit to be emperor. But this Tenth Prince... I’m afraid he’s even more troublesome than the Sixth Prince. It’s hard on this child; growing up, he probably hasn’t even seen his Imperial Father more than a few times. His birth mother is also not capable of guiding him. He has suffered many frights these past few days and can’t even sleep well. Now... let alone other things, I’m afraid he won’t even be able to cope on the day of his ascension."
Seeing the Empress’s weary expression, Ye Li could only sigh. The Tenth Prince’s birth mother was merely a palace maid who had been unexpectedly favored by Mo Jingqi. Originally from a poor farming family, she naturally couldn’t teach the Tenth Prince much. Although now, because the Tenth Prince was about to ascend the throne, people in the palace respectfully addressed her as Empress Dowager, that title and the magnificent ceremonial robe could not change a person’s temperament or abilities. Wearing that magnificent Empress Dowager’s phoenix robe only made the already small and inconspicuous woman appear even more insignificant and uneasy. Currently, matters outside the palace were still supported by Prince Li, State Duke Hua, and the civil and military officials, but matters within the palace must be borne solely by the Empress. If something were to happen to the new Emperor at this time, even if the Empress was not blamed, the crime of failing to protect the young monarch would be inescapable. No wonder the Empress looked so exhausted.
Seeing the Empress in this state, Ye Li almost couldn’t bear to mention Third Feng’s matter anymore.
The Empress noticed Ye Li’s somewhat distracted look and couldn’t help but smile. "Is there something you wish to say? We are not outsiders, so feel free to speak directly."
Ye Li looked up at her and said softly, "Third Feng is back."
The Empress was stunned. She lowered her head, staring blankly at the white jade bracelet on her wrist, lost in thought. Ye Li did not rush her, quietly sitting beside her, drinking tea. After a long while, the Empress came to her senses, smiled apologetically at Ye Li, and said, "I’ve made a fool of myself. For a moment... Wasn’t he doing well in the Northwest? Why would he return at this time?"
Ye Li calmly looked at the Empress without speaking. The faint smile on the Empress’s face gradually faded. Looking helplessly at Ye Li, she said, "For the Princess Consort to come and tell me this, you must... already know about those past matters." Ye Li nodded and said gently, "The past events were not Your Highness’s fault. Third Feng’s refusal to give up is his obsession, also not Your Highness’s fault. If Your Highness truly feels nothing, I will tell him not to bother Your Highness anymore. But if Your Highness is not truly unmoved, why not give each other a chance?"
"A chance?" The Empress offered a bitter smile, shaking her head at Ye Li. "Thank you, Princess Consort. I know the Princess Consort is not one to meddle in others’ affairs. It’s already not easy for you to say this much to me. Please convey to him for me... I only regard him, like Xiuyao, as a younger brother I watched grow up. There’s nothing else."
Ye Li knitted her brows. "He wishes to see Your Highness. The moment he returned to the Capital, he wanted to come to the palace. The Prince and I persuaded him not to. But if I take back such an answer, I fear he will not be convinced no matter what. At that time, he will still want to see Your Highness."
The Empress shook her head. "There’s no need to meet. The palace is heavily guarded inside and out, and with the new Emperor’s ascension imminent, I have no mind for such things. Princess Consort, please tell him not to enter the palace. I don’t have time."
Ye Li was silent. "No time" was indeed an excellent excuse for refusal. When a person doesn’t even have time to see you, it naturally shows how little they care about you. In every respect, the Empress was an extremely intelligent woman.
"What are Your Highness’s plans for the future?" Ye Li asked, her brows furrowed.
The Empress looked at Ye Li, puzzled. Ye Li pursed her lips and smiled faintly. "If Your Highness wants me to persuade Third Feng, you must give me sufficient reason. At least... he needs to know that without him, Your Highness can also live extremely well, perhaps even better than with him, right?" The Empress understood and said in a deep voice, "When the new Emperor ascends, I will become the Empress Dowager of Great Chu. Isn’t that enough?"
"Perhaps it is," Ye Li sighed.
The two were silent for a moment when a commotion arose outside the door. "Insolence! Bring out the Empress! This Dowager wants to see her!"
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Her Highness the Empress is currently receiving Princess Consort Ding. Please wait a moment, Empress Dowager." The maid outside painstakingly tried to persuade.
"Audacious! This Dowager is the Empress Dowager! Do I need to wait to see her? Feng, you come out for this Dowager!"
Ye Li frowned, puzzled. "Didn’t they say she was to be buried with the late Emperor? Why is she still causing trouble? Is Noble Consort Liu still around?"
The Empress said with a faint smile, "The Liu Family and Prince Qin’s side both disagree with Noble Consort Liu being buried with the late Emperor. The key is that the Regent Prince’s intentions have also wavered. Since Noble Consort Liu is still alive, the Empress Dowager naturally cannot be dealt with for the time being. Those few families are still bickering with the court officials and those scholars. I heard there’s a proposal that she be buried with him when His Majesty is interred. That wouldn’t count as violating the posthumous edict."
"But that has nothing to do with the Empress Dowager, does it? The Previous Emperor was buried almost twenty years ago."
"Who knows what they’re thinking? On this matter, whatever I say would be wrong. Might as well let them argue it out themselves." Hearing the noise outside getting increasingly unruly, the Tenth Prince inside seemed to have been awakened by the commotion and started whimpering and crying. The Empress frowned and announced loudly, "Please invite the Empress Dowager in."
The area outside was quiet for a moment. A short while later, the Empress Dowager swept into the main hall with a large retinue.
Looking at the Empress Dowager before her, Ye Li couldn’t help but be startled. She remembered the first time she had seen the Empress Dowager was during the Changde period. The Empress Dowager had been lofty, graceful, and dignified, the mother of the nation. But the current Empress Dowager seemed as if all her former grace, nobility, and royal majesty had vanished overnight. Her graying hair, the wrinkles on her brow that even powder could not conceal, and the fierce, hostile aura in her eyes. She didn’t resemble the Empress Dowager of a nation, the mother of her people; rather, she looked like a fighting beast trapped in a cage.
