Shanhe Festival 270. Mo Jingqi's "Change"

The Queen Mother had been the mother of the country for more than ten years, and she was extremely honorable. Even though Mo Jingqi had a grudge against her, he was still respectful on the surface. How could he be pointed at in the face and told to get lost? His face suddenly became colorful, complicated and ugly like a palette.

"My son!" The Queen Mother gritted her teeth. The purpose of her coming here was originally for the issue of the throne, so it was impossible for her to leave so easily.

Mo Jingqi didn't care about anything, pointing at the Queen Mother and saying, "Get out of here, did you hear me?! As long as I am alive, I am the emperor! Get out... Don't even think about it... Don't even think about getting what you want!" The Queen Mother suppressed her anger and stepped forward and said, "I know that Your Majesty is in a bad mood now, and Your Majesty can lose his temper. But please think about what will happen after your death. Your Majesty should always think about the princes and princesses." Mo Jingqi couldn't help laughing wildly, but he was crying and laughing at the same time, and even bloody tears flowed from the corners of his eyes. The Queen Mother was also shocked when she saw this, and took two steps back, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, you..."

Mo Jing said in a pleading voice, "Go tell your good son to give up this idea. Even if the Chu Kingdom is destroyed, I will not hand it over to him. And his precious son... just wait to be buried with me. If he has the ability to fight for the throne, go fight for it himself. I will watch... I will watch him from heaven... I will not have any descendants!"

The last four words were filled with resentment, and the queen mother couldn't help but feel cold in her heart. The queen mother didn't know that Mo Jingli would never have children in this life, and she just thought it was a curse from Mo Jingqi. However, looking at Mo Jingqi, who was bloodstained on the bed, with tears in the corners of his eyes and a ferocious face like a demon, the queen mother was also scared. Helplessly, the queen mother had to stumble out of the bedroom. The people guarding outside the hall hurried to come in and take a look. As soon as they entered the door, they heard Mo Jingqi's voice coming from inside, "Get out! I want to be quiet!" Hearing that Mo Jingqi's voice seemed to be full of energy, the people at the door felt relieved and guarded the door again, thinking that nothing serious had happened.

In the bedroom, Mo Jingqi laughed bitterly. He had just vented his anger, and as soon as the empress dowager left, his already very ugly expression deteriorated at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Hehe..." A low and pleasant laugh suddenly came from the bedroom, followed by the sound of slow and approaching footsteps. Mo Jingqi tried to open his eyes, but the man in front of him immediately made his groggy mind clearer. He stared at the man standing in front of him with wide eyes. He was wearing white clothes and white hair, with a handsome face, sword-like eyebrows, and a stern demeanor. The snow-white sleeves were embroidered with silver dragon patterns and auspicious clouds, and there seemed to be a faint scent of agarwood lingering in his nose, which made Mo Jingqi, who had been groggy from the bloody smell, immediately clear his mind.

"Mo Xiuyao!" Mo Jingqi said in a deep voice.

“Hehe…” Mo Xiuyao laughed softly, “Your Majesty, I haven’t seen you for only half a year and you’ve become like this. This really surprises me.”

Beside Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li, who was dressed in green, held a white jade doll in black brocade clothes. The little doll, who was only five or six years old, was handsome and cute. Its dark eyes looked at Mo Jingqi with a lively look that he had never seen before. Seeing Mo Jingqi's bloody and wolfish appearance, the little doll did not show any fear. Instead, it poked its head out of Ye Li's arms to see more clearly.

"Is this your son?" Mo Jingqi asked.

Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows, took Mo Xiaobao out of Ye Li's arms and held him in his hands, saying, "Yes, it's my son. Mo Yuchen." Mo Xiaobao, whose real name is Yuchen, looked at the person on the bed with some curiosity. His father never called him by his real name. Who was this person that made him suddenly make an exception? "Father... is this the husband of the aunt in white clothes?" Mo Xiuyao rubbed his son's head and smiled, "Yes, it's the husband of the aunt, and the father of your sister Wuyou."

Mo Jingqi's face changed when he heard the three words "Mo Yuchen". But after hearing the words of the aunt in white and Sister Wuyou, Mo Jingqi finally sighed, closed his eyes and swallowed back what he was about to say, and asked, "Is Changle doing well in the northwest?" Ye Li said calmly, "Wuyou has already worshipped the divine doctor as his teacher, and plans to practice medicine to help the world in the future."

Mo Jingqi was obviously a little surprised, and waved his hands with some difficulty, saying: "Never mind, I know you will definitely take good care of her. Haha... I really didn't expect that you would come back to see me." Mo Jingqi looked at Mo Xiuyao, and his eyes were calmer than ever before. In the past, even when Mo Xiuyao was at his lowest and Mo Jingqi was at his most proud, Mo Jingqi looked at Mo Xiuyao with vigilance and jealousy. This was the first time in his life that he looked so calm, as if nothing was happening.

Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Of course I will come back to see you. Otherwise, how can I explain to my father and brother and the tens of thousands of heroes who died innocently in Prince Ding's Mansion? In order to catch up and bid you farewell, I was busy for half a year last year before I could spare the time to come now."

"You..." Mo Jingqi was slightly stunned. Mo Xiuyao nodded and said, "Yes, I knew you would do this. Because when Mo Jingli bought medicine in Southern Xinjiang, I was watching not far away. For this matter, I also specially asked Mr. Shen to study the medicinal properties of this poison." After that, Mo Xiuyao took out a small porcelain bottle and threw it on Mo Jingqi's bed. Mo Jingqi picked up the porcelain bottle on the bed with trembling hands and opened it. There were tiny pills in it. Looking at the pills in front of him that were smaller than soybeans, Mo Jingqi wanted to cry and laugh. He was harmed by this kind of medicine, and he was harmed by his own brother. He was wary of Dingwang Mansion and Mo Xiuyao all his life, but in the end he died at the hands of his own brother. This is simply a huge irony.

Looking at Mo Jingqi like this, Mo Xiuyao was in a good mood, "Come to think of it... Even if you were poisoned by this incurable poison, you still had a chance to survive. I remember that you originally had a blue sky flower. Right?"

Mo Jingqi's face changed slightly, and his voice became hoarse, "The Biluo Flower... Did you take the Biluo Flower?"

Mo Xiuyao admitted generously, "Isn't it? You should have guessed it yourself. If it weren't for your Biluohua, how could I have fully recovered?"

Mo Jingqi was silent for a long time, and suddenly burst into laughter, "Haha... retribution! It's really retribution..." He had caused Mo Xiuyao to be poisoned and disabled, but Mo Xiuyao had snatched his Biluo Flower to detoxify and treat his illness. But now that he himself was poisoned, he no longer had any Biluo Flower to use. It was really retribution...

Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows and said, "Whether it is retribution or not, I am not interested in knowing. But seeing you like this now... I am very relieved. Why don't you ask me if I have an antidote? You don't want to live anymore, do you? As long as you are alive, everyone around you is reminding you how much of a failure you are. Do you know... your actions did not harm the Ding Palace, but completely freed the Ding Palace from hundreds of years of constraints. It's a pity... You won't live long, otherwise I really want to show you what kind of reward you will get for your actions against the Mo family army. Let you see... who is more qualified to survive in this chaotic world, you, the so-called direct descendant of the Great Chu royal family or my Ding Palace..."

"Stop talking!" Mo Jingqi suddenly shouted. He stretched out his hand and grabbed Mo Xiuyao's sleeve with strength from nowhere and said, "Kill me... Kill me now and make the palace pay for your crime. Kill me!"

Mo Xiuyao took a step back and easily broke free of Mo Jingqi's hand that was grabbing his sleeve. He lowered his eyes and looked at him calmly, saying, "I am no longer interested in your life. If you want to die, go and die. However... I advise you to take it easy, because Mo Jingli is still waiting anxiously."

Mo Jingqi panted, looked at him and said, "Help me... help me kill Mo Jingqi and the people from the Liu family."

As if he had heard something strange, Mo Xiuyao asked, "What good will it bring me if I help you do this?" Mo Jingqi said, "I will order the Queen Mother and all the princes and princesses except the new emperor to be buried with her. This will serve as a memorial to the souls of your Mo Army. Is that enough?!"

"The emperor is truly cruel and ruthless." Ye Li sighed softly.

Mo Jingqi stared at Mo Xiuyao and asked, "Do you agree? I can also issue an edict of repentance and tell the world the truth about what happened back then."

There was silence in the bedroom for a long time, and then Mo Xiuyao slowly laughed out loud. Holding Mo Xiaobao, he shook his head and said, "Prince Ding's Mansion has no connection with Da Chu anymore. Your Majesty should just wish for the best. Ah Li, let's go back." Ye Li nodded, turned around and followed Mo Xiuyao out from where they came from. Mo Jingqi on the bed wanted to get up but was completely unable to do so. Mo Xiuyao's voice came from a corner of the room, "Although the small bottle contains poison, it can prolong your life for a few days. Your Majesty, please take it or not."

On the dragon bed, Mo Jingqi stared at the small bottle in his hand in a trance.

Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao walked side by side in the winding tunnel. Mo Xiuyao held Mo Xiaobao, who was blinking and a little sleepy, and looked at Ye Li and smiled softly: "Are you wondering why I gave him medicine?"

Ye Li nodded. The medicine in the small bottle was indeed what she and Mo Xiuyao had stolen from Lei Tengfeng. It was exactly the same medicine that Mo Jingli bought in the Southern Xinjiang Holy Land. After being specially refined by Shen Yang, it could not save Mo Jingqi's life. But if Mo Jingqi took it, it should be able to prolong his life for a few days. Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao were both people who knew a little about medicine, so they could naturally see that Mo Jingqi looked like he was running out of energy and would not live beyond tomorrow.

Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "Mo Jingqi is a strange person, and he will never let go of any grudge. He has been forced hard by the Queen Mother, Mo Jingli, and the Liu family these past two days. If we give him a chance to fight back, he will definitely give us a surprise." Ye Li smiled and said, "I hope it's not a surprise." Ye Li was really a little wary of people like Mo Jingqi, so it's better for him to die. Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "Let's wait and see."

The next morning, good news came from the palace as expected, and the emperor ordered all officials to attend the morning court.

Upon hearing the news, the dignitaries in the imperial city were all shocked. You know, the news they received was that the emperor would definitely not get better. During the days when he was lying in bed, Prince Li had been handling state affairs on his behalf. When they suddenly heard that the emperor wanted all officials to attend the morning court, they were naturally shocked. The timid ones even felt weak in the knees. They wondered in their hearts whether the emperor had used a trick to deceive them before, and then secretly observed their loyalty. If so, they were really going to die.

Mo Jingli was shocked and angry when he got the news. His first reaction was naturally disbelief. He had already asked someone to try the drug before giving it to Mo Jingqi. This poison is basically incurable. And when the queen mother passed away yesterday, she looked like she was about to die, but she was able to attend the court this morning. How is this possible? !

Also receiving the news of the morning court were a group of old ministers from the previous emperor's time, including Duke Hua, who had long since retired and was living at home. Mo Jingqi had been jealous of these old ministers since he ascended the throne, so he had tried to make them retire and demote them early on. Although there were only a few left, their influence in the court was not small, and this time they were also reported to the palace by Mo Jingqi.

At the palace gate, the courtiers and dignitaries who met each other had different expressions. Duke Hua, with white hair and beard, was supported by his son and grandson as he walked. Along the way, officials came up to greet him.

"Duke Hua." Mo Jingli looked extremely noble in his dragon robe of the Regent King.

Duke Hua narrowed his old eyes, stroked his snow-white beard, and smiled at Mo Jingli, saying, "It turns out to be His Royal Highness Prince Li. I haven't seen His Royal Highness Prince Li for a few years, but he has become more majestic. We old guys are really old." Duke Hua has been recuperating at home for the past few years and doesn't like to go out all year round. It has been four or five years since he and Mo Jingli last met. Although he is now in a high position, Mo Jingli does not want to offend Duke Hua easily. He bowed and smiled, "Old Duke, you are joking. How can you take my little ability seriously?" Duke Hua looked at Mo Jingli with a smile and said, "His Royal Highness Prince Li is getting more and more eloquent."

Mo Jingli accompanied Duke Hua to the Qinzheng Hall for the morning court session, and chatted idly, "Prince Ding has also returned to the capital in the past two days. I wonder if the old Duke has met him?"

Duke Hua shook his head and said, "I am old, so it is inevitable that I am not well-informed. But I have to thank you for telling me the news of Prince Ding's return. If Prince Ding still remembers that I have some friendship with Prince Ding's Mansion, I believe we can still meet in a few days. Now that Prince Ding has just returned to the capital, he must have a lot of things to do. Let's not disturb him." Mo Jingli smiled lightly and said, "The old Duke said it at the right time. Today, the emperor summoned the old Duke to the palace..."

Duke Hua smiled and said, "The emperor must have recovered, and he is so happy that he wants us old men to celebrate for him together."

"Really?" Mo Jingli did not refute, but looked at Duke Hua apologetically and said, "Old Duke, I..." Duke Hua did not embarrass him, and said with a smile, "King Li is a young man, and he can't walk with us old men. King Li will go first." Mo Jingli bowed and smiled, "In that case, old Duke, take care, I will take my leave first."

"No need to see you off." Duke Hua said with a smile.

Watching Mo Jingli walk away, the smile on Duke Hua's face gradually faded. He supported his son and said with some worry: "Dad, the emperor hasn't invited us to the palace to see him for several years. This time... I'm afraid it's not easy." Duke Hua sighed helplessly and said: "If the emperor wants his subjects to die, they have to die. Besides, he just asked us to enter the palace to see him. We are not the only family. Anyway... remember to say less and make fewer mistakes when you are in the palace. It's better not to say anything. If there is anything, I, an old man, can still block it for you."

"Dad, it's all because of my incompetence..." The eldest son of the Hua family, who was already over fifty years old, supported Duke Hua and said with shame on his face. If it weren't for the incompetence of their descendants, why would their father, who was almost eighty years old, go to the palace in person to protect them from the possible plots of the king?

Duke Hua waved his hands and said, "I don't know how long I can protect you. I'll just take care of you for now. I think today's incident may have something to do with Prince Ding."

"What do you mean?" The eldest son of the Hua family was shocked, but he did not dare to show it, so he could only ask in a low voice.

Duke Hua said, "I just heard from Prince Li that Prince Ding came back in the past two days. The emperor got better just after Prince Ding came back. Do you think this is a coincidence?"

"But... Prince Ding will never save the emperor with his temper." They all watched Prince Ding grow up, and even if they hadn't seen him for many years, his fundamental temper couldn't have changed. Prince Ding was not a gentle and kind person when he was young, and it's impossible for him to develop a mentality of repaying evil with kindness in the past ten years.

Duke Hua sighed and said, "I'm just afraid... the emperor really doesn't have much time left."

"Dad, you mean that the emperor wants us to enter the palace to..." entrust his son to him.

Duke Hua waved his hand and said, "Let's go and see for ourselves."

The Qinzheng Hall was full today, with more people than in the previous morning court sessions. Many young court officials found that there were several old officials standing in front of them whom they did not even know, as well as princes from the royal family. They all knew in their hearts that something big might happen today. The timid ones could not help but shrink back and dared not say a word. Those standing in the front were whispering and exchanging their opinions. Just from the seats, it can be seen that these court officials have been divided into two factions. One faction surrounded Mo Jingli, and the other surrounded Prime Minister Liu, looking at each other with some unfriendly expressions. And the other faction was independent of these people. But the number of people was indeed very small, all of them were some elderly people over sixty years old and those nobles who had no power.

"The Emperor has arrived!" The eunuch's shrill voice echoed in the hall.

The hall was suddenly quiet, and everyone couldn't help but stare at the empty dragon throne. After a while, footsteps were heard from the back of the hall, and Mo Jingqi, who had not been seen for a long time, walked out in a dragon robe, supported by the eunuch. Because he had been ill for a long time, Mo Jingqi was already emaciated, and the original dragon robe could no longer support him, forming a weird sense of disharmony. His face was still sallow, but his lips were a striking dark red, and his eyes were surprisingly bright and sharp.

"Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

Mo Jingqi looked down from above, and said calmly to the ministers below, "My Lords, come and announce the decree."