Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Mo Yunhan had been kneeling for more than an hour.

Mo Yunzhao arrived late after reading the memorial.

He pushed away the hand of the chief eunuch who was supporting him and strode forward.

"Little Ninth, why didn't you send someone to inform me? What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and help His Highness the Ninth Prince up."

Just as the chief eunuch was about to step forward, Mo Yunhan raised his hand to stop him.

“Brother, Father’s punishment of kneeling has nothing to do with you. I will get up once he has calmed down.”

Mo Yunzhao's eyes darkened slightly.

He waved for everyone to step back, then stood leisurely beside Mo Yunhan in a bright yellow dragon robe, looking at the tightly closed doors of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and sighed softly.

"You never understand your father's good intentions. You don't know how much I envy you. Since you were a child, your father has protected you and always thought of you. Even though I have done so much over the years, in your father's eyes, I still think that I will harm you in the future."

Mo Yunhan frowned, looked up at him, and spoke in a deep, resounding voice.

“Brother, you are the ruler and I am the subject. This will never change.”

A strange light flashed in Mo Yunzhao's eyes, then he smiled and leaned down to pat him on the shoulder.

"You are my most beloved younger brother, how could I not trust you? I am advising you that your father is getting old and is doing this for your own good, so please don't be stubborn anymore. Xiaoran was raised by the Empress Dowager and is of pure character; she is suitable to be the principal wife."

Mo Yunhan slowly clenched his fists, which were hanging by his sides.

"I have said I will not marry her."

Mo Yunzhao's expression changed slightly.

"Do you know that I can no longer stop the Empress Dowager? How long are you going to cause trouble?"

"Yun Xiaoran, kill Yun Yaoyao." Mo Yunhan raised his eyes again, his gaze as cold and sharp as a knife.

Mo Yunzhao's heart trembled violently.

"What nonsense are you talking about? I know that you have always harbored resentment towards the Empress Dowager because of your mother's matter, but you cannot say such absurd things just to avoid the Empress Dowager's arranged marriage."

"The Yun family are loyal ministers, and Princess Xiaoran is the orphan of a loyal minister. You should have a limit to your reckless behavior and not chill the hearts of loyal ministers."

Mo Yunhan remained silent.

The skeletons from the dry well are now laid out in the coroner's office of the Jingzhao Prefecture.

But Liu Ruzhi said it.

The person with the broken bones could not be identified, and there were no signs of murder.

The year determined from the skeleton cannot be accurate to the specific year, month, or even the day.

Trying to work on it from a time perspective is simply impossible.

He waited at the county magistrate's mansion until Yun Xiaoran woke up, but he didn't get any results from her questions.

Yun Xiaoran cried and said that Jiang Qingwan had made a false accusation. She threatened to kill herself and even wanted to confront the Empress Dowager. In the end, she fainted on the bed.

There is only one path left: let Jiang Qingwan use magic to reveal the truth of what happened back then.

But……

He recalled the jade carving that Mo Yunzhao had personally given him to celebrate his birthday.

If Jiang Qingwan's abilities are laid bare before Mo Yunzhao, how confident is he in protecting her?

Or perhaps,

The Zhou royal family can still enjoy some peace.

"Squeak"

The doors of the Hall of Mental Cultivation opened at this moment.

The old eunuch serving the retired emperor bowed respectfully.

"Your Highness, the Emperor Emeritus requests your presence."

Mo Yunzhao's eyes darkened slightly.

"I will also go and see my father."

The old eunuch bowed again.

"The Emperor Emeritus is well, Your Majesty need not worry."

This is what it means to not see.

Mo Yunzhao tightened his grip on his sleeve, then smiled faintly at Mo Yunhan, who had just stood up.

"Xiao Jiu, then you should talk to Father Emperor for me and not make him angry."

After he finished speaking, he glanced in the direction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Through the long courtyard walls and corridors, one could vaguely see the flickering candlelight inside the main hall.

His heart felt like it was overgrown with weeds, and after a moment he turned and left.

Mo Yunhan followed the old eunuch into the main hall.

Inside the room, the retired emperor, with his hair loose and only held in a bun behind his ear with a wooden hairpin, leaned against the soft couch, flipping through the yellowed notes in his hand.

She didn't even look up when he came in.

"Have you thought it through? If you don't marry that girl from the Yun family, who do you want to marry? The daughter of the Left Chancellor? Or the granddaughter of the Su family? As for those noble ladies in the capital, marry whoever you fancy. Don't worry about which son the Emperor intends to marry. My uncle doesn't even have a princess yet, so why are those people in such a hurry?"

Mo Yunhan found a chair and sat down.

"Do you really have to arrange a princess for me?"

The retired emperor irritably threw down the notes in his hand.

"Are you planning to wait until I die and then come with me to the imperial mausoleum?"

Mo Yunhan lowered his eyes and stared at the four-clawed dragon and python on his dark robe, then replied softly.

“My brother is not that kind of person.”

"Hmph, I know better than you whether he's that kind of person or not. With the tiger tally and the support of the imperial relatives, you can rebel if you want. If you don't have that intention, then it's your life-saving charm, understand?"

After the retired emperor finished his reprimand, he picked up the notes and looked through them, his tone softening.

"Also, you don't need to concern yourself with the Empress Dowager."

All escape routes have been paved, making them indestructible.

Mo Yunhan remained silent for a long time.

"Father, my mother..."

"Shut up!"

The yellowed notebook was thrown at me hard, landing on the ground. The unfolded page read: "Fox demon, nine-tailed, capable of bewitching minds, transforming into human form, mating with humans, and raising children like ordinary people..."

The hall was deathly silent.

The retired emperor was panting heavily, his thin back slightly hunched. He couldn't catch his breath for a long time and began to cough, which became worse and worse.

The old eunuch came in when he heard the noise, and while helping him catch his breath, he said, "Your Highness, the Emperor Emeritus should rest and burn incense. You may go back now."

Mo Yunhan stood up from his chair, stared at the old man who was coughing so hard he was almost curled up in a ball, and finally asked no more questions. He bowed and left.

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