Mountain and River Festival 197. Undercurrents in the Chu Palace
None of my business?
Tan Jizhi looked at the beautiful woman in front of him with interest. Ever since he first met Concubine Liu Guifei, he thought this woman was very interesting. She had no ambitions and didn't care about the emperor's favor at all. In this deep palace, she was like a snow lotus blooming alone on the top of a mountain, looking down on the people in the palace with indifference. At that time, he thought this was just a way for her to gain favor. After all, the emperor was used to countless women who flirted with him, and a beautiful woman with a cold personality was particularly attractive. But soon he found that she really didn't care about these. When the emperor came, she would stay indifferent, and she didn't care if the emperor didn't come. If she could keep doing this, he would admire this woman. But in the end, he still discovered her weakness - Prince Ding Mo Xiuyao.
Concubine Liu Gui really loved Mo Xiuyao, and unlike Su Zuidi, who loved him for some complicated reasons, she simply loved Mo Xiuyao. She didn't even care whether Mo Xiuyao was the second son of Prince Ding's mansion, the prince of Dingguo, or an ordinary commoner. She didn't care whether Mo Xiuyao was a wielder of a spear or a horse on the battlefield or was bedridden with disabled legs. Tan Jizhi felt that he was almost moved by her infatuation.
Unfortunately, Mo Xiuyao never had her in his eyes. If even Su Zuidie, the most beautiful woman in the world who had been Mo Xiuyao's childhood sweetheart, could not win his heart, then what hope could a daughter of the Liu family whom Mo Xiuyao did not like have? Even if Concubine Liu was no less beautiful than Su Zuidie. Originally, Concubine Liu might not care, because if she could not get Mo Xiuyao, no one else could get him either. She could even lie to herself that it was not that Mo Xiuyao did not love her, but that he simply could not love her. But now, Mo Xiuyao and the princess were in love in the northwest, and it would not be long before their child was born. He did not believe that Concubine Liu could still bear it.
Seeing that Concubine Liu was unmoved, Tan Jizhi sighed and said slowly in a long voice: "Are you really willing to spend your whole life in this deep palace? When Prince Ding's son is born in two months, hehe... Prince Ding will definitely be even more devoted to Concubine Ding. By then, I'm afraid that no one in the world can catch Prince Ding's eye. I heard that... Prince Ding was originally promised to the Xu family, and he can only have Concubine Ding in this life..."
Concubine Liu turned around suddenly, her eyes shooting at the man in the moonlight like cold arrows, "Xu family? Is the Xu family related to Prince Xiu... Ding?"
"Your Majesty, don't you believe that the Xu family is aloof from the world and won't help you?" Tan Jizhi smiled and said, "Don't forget... Ever since Prince Ding occupied Ruyang, even Leng Qingyu and Mu Yang were released, but there has been no news about Xu Qingze, the second son of the Xu family. Since Mo Xiuyao has even released Leng Qingyu and Mu Yang, he can't be holding his own brother-in-law hostage, right? It must be that Xu Qingze himself is unwilling to come back." Concubine Liu Gui said indifferently, "Even if that's the case, what does it matter? Xu Hongyan is in the capital, and Mr. Qingyun and Xu Hongyu are in Yunzhou. As long as these three don't move, what can happen even if all five sons of the Xu family go to Ruyang? The emperor will not easily touch the Xu family."
Tan Jizhi laughed softly and said, "Your Highness, why don't you tell His Majesty about the Xu family's deeds when the Great Chu was founded? Perhaps His Majesty will understand that even if Xu Hongyan and Xu Qingyun are in your hands, it may not be safe."
Concubine Liu looked at him strangely and said, "Why don't you go and tell him yourself? He has been sending people everywhere to look for you these days, and he thought you were assassinated by Prince Ding."
Tan Jizhi shrugged helplessly and said with gritted teeth: "That bastard Su Zuidie told Mo Xiuyao about my identity. If I appear in the palace again, there is no guarantee that Mo Xiuyao will not reveal this to Your Majesty." Concubine Liu sneered: "It turns out that Master Tan and Su Zuidie are still in contact. Is her reputation as the most beautiful woman in the world worthy of her reputation?" Tan Jizhi said: "Of course not. "My Lady Imperial Concubine, I don't know what Su Zuidie has become after being tortured by Mo Xiuyao. It's a pity that my people never found a chance to kill her!" Tan Jizhi secretly hated Su Zuidie when he mentioned her. When he was young and frivolous, he always thought that Mo Xiuyao's fiancée was three points more beautiful than other women. Now it seems that beauties like Imperial Concubine Liu are the most stunning. If there was a medicine for regret in this world, he would never have provoked Su Zuidie that year!
Looking at Concubine Liu's icy face, Tan Jizhi softened his voice and said, "Concubine Liu, you might as well think about it. Getting rid of the Xu family is not without benefits for Concubine Liu, right? As long as the Xu family is eliminated, it is equivalent to cutting off an arm of Princess Ding..." Seeing that Concubine Liu remained silent, Tan Jizhi understood that she was already somewhat tempted, and continued, "The treasures of the previous dynasty are in the northwest, including the imperial seal, Emperor Gaozu's military strategy, and Wealth. Now it probably all belongs to Mo Xiuyao. The noble concubine can reveal this news to His Majesty, which is also a fulfillment of our loyalty between monarch and minister. "Liu Guifei smiled coldly: "How can I explain how I know something that even Mo Jingqi himself doesn't know?" Tan Jizhi raised his eyebrows and smiled, saying: "It's not forced, I'll ask Lord Liu to do it, and I shouldn't bother the noble concubine."
"You can go now." Liu Guifei said. Tan Jizhi sighed, "Your Highness is so heartless... After all, we have known each other for many years. I..."
"The Emperor has arrived!" The eunuch's sharp voice rang out from outside the palace gate. Tan Jizhi's eyes flickered, "It's so late, why is the Emperor coming?" Concubine Liu stood up and said indifferently, "He is the Emperor, who can control when he comes when he wants?" Tan Jizhi sighed helplessly, "So everyone in this world wants to be the Emperor, take care, Your Majesty, I will take my leave first." Watching Tan Jizhi flash into the darkness, Concubine Liu lowered her head and was silent for a moment, then said indifferently, "Not everyone is interested in that position." If that person is really interested in that position, she will make it happen for him even if she has to give up everything, just asking him to look at her seriously...
After slowly straightening his clothes, Mo Jingqi's carriage had already arrived outside the palace. Stepping into the palace, Mo Jingqi frowned as he looked at the darkness in the room and said, "Why don't you turn on the lights? Where are the servants?" Just by hearing Mo Jingqi's tone, Concubine Liu knew that he was in a bad mood at the moment. It was said that Concubine Liu was the most favored concubine in the six palaces, and the emperor even often went against the empress dowager for her. But only Concubine Liu knew that it was just that Mo Jingqi was in a good mood. When Mo Jingqi was in a good mood, he would naturally be pampered, but once he was in a bad mood, the people closest to him would suffer. Therefore, Concubine Liu never looked down on the neglected queen. Mo Jingqi did not pamper her, but gave her the right to rule the harem. And he never lost his temper with her. Therefore, the queen is the person who lives the most comfortably in this deep palace, even if the reason is just because Mo Jingqi is wary of the Hua family and is unwilling to get close to the queen.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. It was I who asked them to leave." Concubine Liu Gui said calmly.
The palace maids and eunuchs following Mo Jingqi quietly entered the hall, lit all the candles, and then left silently. The hall was bright and fragrant under the candlelight. Mo Jingqi looked at Concubine Liu and said, "It's so late, my beloved concubine, why don't you rest yet?" Concubine Liu looked calm and said indifferently, "The night-blooming cereus outside the window has fallen. I was so greedy that I forgot the time."
"Oh?" Mo Jingqi raised his eyebrows and walked to the half-open window. Sure enough, he saw a blooming Epiphyllum under the window. Then he smiled and said, "Did I disturb my beloved concubine's interest in flower appreciation?" Concubine Liu remained silent, and actually acquiesced. Mo Jingqi had long been accustomed to her temper and didn't care. If Concubine Liu was too enthusiastic and affectionate to him, he would be suspicious. Looking at the stunning woman who looked particularly moving under the moon, Mo Jingqi's eyes flashed with desire, and he grabbed her and pressed her against the window sill and kissed her fiercely. The fierce lip and tongue entanglement ended only when Concubine Liu was a little out of breath. Mo Jingqi lowered his head and looked at the woman in his arms, his eyes still cold and calm, as if everything just now was just his illusion. Staring at Concubine Liu Guifei's stunning face, Mo Jingqi's expression was complicated and difficult to discern. There was anger and unwillingness, as well as deep infatuation and jealousy, which made his original desire completely subside.
"It's so late, what does the emperor want to say?" Gently pushing Mo Jingqi away, Concubine Liu Gui walked back to the couch in the palace and sat down and asked.
Mo Jingqi's face darkened, and he walked over to Concubine Liu Gui and sat down, gritting his teeth and saying, "That old bastard Hua Chenfeng wrote a memorial today saying that he wanted to lead the troops to go to war!"
Concubine Liu looked up at him in confusion, and Mo Jingqi snorted coldly, "He's dreaming! He should stay at home and wait for death at such an old age. I will let him die of old age for the sake of the Queen and Changle! Mo Xiuyao just got into trouble and he came to covet military power. Sooner or later, I will make him die miserably!" Concubine Liu listened calmly to Mo Jingqi angrily scolding Duke Hua and the officials in the court who protected Prince Ding's mansion. She would not say bad things about Duke Hua, and Mo Jingqi did not need her to scold Duke Hua with him. He just needed someone to listen to him. When Mo Jingqi finally finished scolding his anger, he turned around and looked at Concubine Liu sitting in a daze, and said unhappily: "My beloved concubine, what are you thinking about?" Concubine Liu lowered her eyes and said: "Your Majesty is in a bad mood today, is it because of Duke Hua's matter?"
Mo Jingqi snorted and said, "I don't have time to care about that old bastard Hua Chenfeng! Tan Jizhi hasn't come back yet, I'm afraid he was secretly killed by Mo Xiuyao. Those bastards came back and said that many people saw Tan Jizhi leave Ruyang with their own eyes. Mo Xiuyao has improved now. Do you think this little trick can fool me?" If Mo Xiuyao was unwilling to let Tan Jizhi go before, he would definitely hold him tightly. If he wanted to kill Tan Jizhi, he would definitely kill him openly with a knife, and nothing would work. But now he let him go openly, but stabbed him secretly. Mo Xiuyao has indeed improved a lot over the years! Concubine Liu lowered her eyes, and the expression in her eyes faded. "When the emperor sent Mr. Tan to the northwest, he naturally thought that he might fall into the hands of Prince Ding."
Mo Jingqi cursed under his breath and said angrily, "Tan Jizhi is also useless! Not only was he captured by Mo Xiuyao, but even the Princess Ding who was already in his hands was rescued by Mo Xiuyao!" Mo Jingqi was so angry when talking about this. If Ye Li was captured, and she was pregnant, wouldn't Mo Xiuyao have to listen to his manipulations? Such a good opportunity was lost in vain, how could Mo Jingqi not be angry. Concubine Liu raised her eyes and said, "Lord Tan has always been the emperor's confidant. Why did the emperor send Lord Tan to the northwest... I have overstepped my authority and should not ask about the affairs of the court." Mo Jingqi waved his hand and said, "It's nothing. Of course I believe you. Legend has it that the imperial tomb and treasure of the founding emperor of the previous dynasty are in the northwest, and Tan Jizhi went there for this matter. But I didn't expect..."
Concubine Liu Gui pondered for a moment and said, "Then... now all the treasures of the previous dynasty belong to the Mo family army?"
Mo Jingqi's face was full of anger. He stood up and said, "That's exactly it! If the military manual and treasures of the previous emperor are really in the northwest, the strength of the Mo family army must be even higher! Damn Tan Jizhi..." As if she didn't see Mo Jingqi's anger, Concubine Liu continued, "And, I'm afraid it's not just the military manual and treasures. There is also... the imperial seal..."
Mo Jingqi's face changed, and he quickly cast his gaze towards Concubine Liu, and asked suspiciously: "How do you know that there is an imperial seal in the Emperor Gaozu's mausoleum?" Concubine Liu's expression changed slightly, and she looked up at him and said: "It is also recorded in history books that the Emperor Gaozu of the previous dynasty did obtain the imperial seal. The imperial edict with the imperial seal was also found in the relics left in the palace of the previous dynasty, which also proves this. But since the Emperor Gaozu of the previous dynasty passed away, no one in the world has seen any trace of the imperial seal. Obviously, the Emperor Gaozu did not pass it on to his descendants. In this case... the seal is naturally very likely in the imperial mausoleum. It is not possible that... the Emperor Gaozu of the previous dynasty just found a river and threw the seal away?"
Mo Jingqi carefully looked at Concubine Liu Gui, and after a while he said, "My beloved concubine rarely talks so much. It seems... you really hate Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li?"
Concubine Liu did not hide her feelings, "Doesn't the emperor hate him?" Mo Jingqi nodded and said, "My beloved concubine is right, I hate him too!" Concubine Liu hated Mo Xiuyao for not loving her, and hated Ye Li for taking away her love. She hated the strength and reputation of the Dingguo Palace, and even more so Mo Xiuyao's identity as a proud son of heaven and his genius. He was the son of the previous emperor, and Mo Xiuyao was just the second son of the palace. But when he was struggling cautiously in the palace since he was a child, Mo Xiuyao was the one that everyone in Chujing, including the princes, wanted to make friends with and curry favor with. The brothers schemed against each other to fight for their father's favor. Even their own brothers had to be on guard against them. However, Mo Xiuyao indulged himself. No matter what trouble he got into, his elder brother Mo Xiuwen followed him helplessly to clean up the mess. When he studied hard all night and racked his brains to write a policy article to win his father's smile, Mo Xiuyao only needed to pick up the pen and write eloquently to win the praise of the whole court. It was different from him being a prince, but even the woman he loved was obsessed with Mo Xiuyao... He made a vow when he was still a prince that one day he would trample Mo Xiuyao and the Dingwang Mansion under his feet!
Thinking about Concubine Liu's reasoning, Mo Jingqi's face became more gloomy. If Mo Xiuyao really got the imperial seal, then it would really be... destined? It seems that Mo Xiuyao really has ideas about this world. Thinking of this, Mo Jingqi naturally couldn't sit still, so he stood up and walked out. Concubine Liu didn't keep him and just watched him go out with an indifferent expression. Listening to the sound of the imperial carriage starting, the palace was quiet again.
"You didn't mention anything about the Xu family." Tan Jizhi's voice echoed in the hall.
"You haven't left yet." Concubine Liu frowned and said unhappily. Knowing that he was not welcome, Tan Jizhi said without any reluctance: "Leave now, it seems that His Majesty is also interested in the imperial seal?" Concubine Liu snorted and said: "You didn't tell him about the imperial seal before, do you think he won't doubt you when he comes to his senses?" Mo Jingqi is not good at other things, but he is best at doubting people. As long as there is a little clue, he will doubt it first, whether it is right or not. Tan Jizhi said indifferently: "I am tired of serving him for ten years. I am preparing to change my identity. I am afraid that I will not have so much time to see Concubine Gui in the future. It is really sad."
"Get lost!" Concubine Liu said coldly.
Tan Jizhi sighed, walked to Concubine Liu Gui, lifted a strand of her hair and whispered: "Ruoyu, when we gain control of the world in the future, I will hand over Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li to you to deal with personally..."
"Get lost!"
Ruyang City
Mo Xiuyao leaned on the couch and looked at Prince De and Mo Jingyu in front of him nonchalantly. Su Zhe suddenly fell seriously ill last night and couldn't even get out of bed this morning, so he naturally couldn't attend the meeting. Mo Jian seemed to have been forgotten and just sat aside as a guest. After not seeing him for a night, Prince De's expression had calmed down a lot. Mo Xiuyao nodded secretly. This was the Prince De who had escaped unscathed from the previous emperor's fight for the throne. I'm afraid that the pampered life he had been living in these years had made him forget what the royal family's prudence was.
After lowering his head and taking a sip of tea, Mo Xiuyao asked, "Prince De and Prince Yu are here, but does the Emperor have any instructions for me?"
Prince De and Prince Yu looked at each other, and both heard a mocking meaning in Mo Xiuyao's words. Prince Yu bowed and said, "Prince Ding, please forgive me. My uncle and I are only here to convey the emperor's intention. I believe that you must have understood yesterday that the emperor wanted you to return to the capital immediately. Of course, the emperor's order issued in anger cannot be withdrawn, but the emperor will naturally return everything that belongs to you to you." Prince Yu did not dare to say anything more, and only told Mo Jingqi's intention in detail, and he really refused to say anything else.
Mo Xiuyao laughed loudly and said, "I understand what the emperor means. But I'm afraid it won't be as the emperor wishes."
Prince Yu's heart sank. Is Prince Ding determined to cause trouble with the Great Chu?
Mo Xiuyao raised his hand to stop him from speaking and said, "Please ask Prince Yu to go back and tell the emperor that the Mo family army will remember what the emperor did before. Even if I am willing to take the risk and trust the emperor, I am afraid that the soldiers of the Mo family will not agree." Prince Yu swallowed with some difficulty and said with difficulty, "The Ding Palace has been loyal to the country for generations. Why must the prince be so decisive? Even if there is something he is dissatisfied with, as long as Prince, if you say so, I will definitely report it to the Emperor, and we can discuss it later." Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows and said, "Discuss it later? I appreciate Prince Yu's kindness. Prince Yu can also tell the Emperor and the ministers in the court that as long as I am alive, Xiling will never invade Da Chu from the northwest." Prince Yu felt bitter. As long as the Mo family army was in the northwest, Xiling would naturally have no chance to invade from the northwest, but Xiling also bordered Da Chu in the southwest. Although the journey was several times more dangerous than that in the northwest, as long as they were determined, Xiling might be able to invade Da Chu from the southwest.
Prince De looked at Mo Xiuyao sternly and asked, "Prince Ding, have you made up your mind?"
Mo Xiuyao lowered his eyes and smiled calmly, "I just want to give the Mo family army and my wife and children a way out. The Ding Palace has defended the Great Chu for generations. Even if there is no merit, it has worked hard. I can't let the Ding Palace die out from my side, right? If so, how can I face my father, brother, and ancestors of the Ding Palace in the afterlife?"
Prince De was silent for a long time, then nodded and said, "Okay, Prince Yu and I can't persuade you. We have conveyed the emperor's order, and I won't say anything else. I just hope Prince Ding will not forget that the Prince Ding's Palace and the men of the Mohist Army are ultimately the people of the Great Chu."
Mo Xiuyao smiled but said nothing