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Mo Xier came to her senses and smiled apologetically, "The General has been away from home for many days, and there has been no news. I... I am a bit worried."
"Ha ha, you are still young. At my age, I have already given birth to the Emperor, and all my thoughts are consumed by the needs of my hungry child. How could I still care about romantic feelings?" The Empress Dowager said, surprisingly laughing.
Mo Xier felt exposed and somewhat flustered, "The General treats me well, so I must keep him in my heart."
The Empress Dowager nodded in approval, "Being grateful and knowing how to repay kindness, you are a good one." After a moment's thought, she continued, "Now that you have come and are willing to be considerate, I will not make things difficult for you. You can stay at Shuya Cottage for these days and copy scriptures with Green Wisteria for me."
Upon hearing this, Mo Xier immediately knelt down, "Thank you very much, Empress Dowager."
This indirectly saved her life. She understood that if it weren't for Night Star's influence, the Empress Dowager would not like her, and the Emperor was intent on having her. With these two powerful figures at odds, she would likely be the only victim, with her life constantly at risk.
However, since the Empress Dowager still needed to plan for the Emperor, she inevitably had to regard Night Star's beloved woman with more favor, which fortuitously secured Mo Xier's life.
Thinking about living in Shuya Cottage in the future and spending time with Green Wisteria, she recalled that woman's calm and gentle demeanor, which always reminded her of a compassionate Buddha statue in a temple, looking down on all beings with kindness.
The anxiety in her heart eased somewhat.
Li Ye sat in the Imperial Study, flipping through a memorial without expression. The cup of tea before him had already gone cold. Zhang Zehai bent over as he entered quietly and replaced it with a cup of hot tea. He glanced at Li Qingfeng kneeling inside the hall, then averted his gaze and quietly retreated.
Li Qingfeng's face remained pale; in just a few days, this tall man had become emaciated beyond recognition. Yet his expression still appeared proud and aloof.
Finally, Li Ye closed the memorial in his hand and looked at him, "Do you know why I have kept you in the palace for treatment and not allowed you to return home?"
Li Qingfeng stared at the ground, "I do not know." In just a few days, his voice had become hoarse and unrecognizable compared to its former clarity.
"Do you know that after Prime Minister Jiang returned to the residence, he closed the doors to guests, and three ministers were assassinated within the court, along with their families and servants, leaving no one behind?" Li Ye's voice was calm and rational, and his expression was chilling.
Li Qingfeng suddenly raised his head: "Could it be..."
"Indeed, it is Minister of Revenue Wang Zhi Han, Five Gate Admiral Han Yihe, and Chief Censor Mo Qingfeng."
With a thud, Li Qingfeng collapsed to the ground, his eyes vacant. Gradually, a round tear rolled down his face but was evaporated by the flames of anger. "Mentor... it was I who harmed you, it was I..."
"It is indeed you!" Li Ye lifted the tea bowl in front of him and took a sip. "You are foolish, arrogant, and conceited, thinking you could topple the Chancellor's faction with your own strength.
But do you know that the Chancellor's faction has been entrenched for many years, with numerous followers and complex roots? Even I have to compromise at times. You recklessly exchanged your memorial for Mo Qingfeng's trust, causing these officials to meet a tragic end. Tell me, can you face them?"
Li Qingfeng was already in tears and could not speak.
Seeing this, Li Ye did not press him further; he merely sighed softly: "Mo Qingfeng lived a life of integrity and had countless students. You were his most favored disciple. Who would have known that this favored disciple would lead to his family's destruction?"
"Your Majesty, kill me, just kill me..." Li Qingfeng cried out in anguish. Pain, guilt, and regret consumed his heart, making him wish he could die immediately to appease his Mentor's spirit.
He was originally an orphan from a mountain village, having lost both parents at a young age. He survived by stealing. At the age of seven, he stole two buns at the market and was beaten nearly to death.
It was Mo Qingfeng who passed by and saved him, taking him back to his residence to heal his wounds. Out of pity for his background, he kept him there and personally taught him to read and write Confucian classics. He even helped him pass the imperial examination to become a Censor, a kindness that was like being reborn.
However, over the past seven years, his ideals and ambitions gradually faded into darkness as he witnessed the intricate entanglements of the Chancellor's faction within the court.
He could not accept it; he could not accept being controlled by those people in power. He had studied hard for years to bring glory to his family name and to leave a mark in history—not to become a mere pawn.
He waited, though he could no longer remember how long it had been. Finally, an opportunity arrived—one that could turn the tide.
He knew it was a gamble; with gambling comes both winning and losing. He had hesitated, thinking that if he lost, he would face a terrible end and drag many others down with him. Yet in the end, his greed for victory drove him to stake everything.
On that day, the Emperor stood before him alongside Prime Minister Jiang. He was so agitated that he didn't know how to handle himself, resorting to silence as a cover. But the situation shifted dramatically in just a few words; right before his eyes, they struck a dirty deal. That old fox, who had committed countless sins, could swagger away unscathed.
He felt unwilling, indignant, and dared not admit how terrified he had been at that moment. He couldn't even bear to look at Mentor's face. After holding on until now, he truly had no face left to visit Mentor again.
A wave of bitterness surged within him, and he collapsed. When he awoke, he saw the man who seemed untouched by any of it—the Sovereign of the Nine-Five? At that moment, he found it laughable that he had staked everything on this person, believing he would never willingly become a puppet.
In the end, he lost—utterly defeated—with no chance of redemption.
He even wondered if the Emperor would hand him over to Prime Minister Jiang. If that were to happen, what kind of death would he choose to avoid falling into enemy hands and dying in humiliation?
Unexpectedly, the Emperor merely advised him to take care of his health and then left as if nothing had happened—until today...
He lightly recited a few phrases to himself: Mentor is dead, Master's Wife is dead, Little Junior Sister is dead, Cook Wang is dead, Uncle Zhu at the gate is dead—his entire family is gone...
Was it retribution or punishment?
In that instant, looking at the most noble man in the world, a thought crossed his mind: Die! Die with me! You do not deserve to be a wise ruler; you are just a coward—a coward who trades the Empire's power like a filthy dog!
"You should hate me," Li Ye said suddenly as if sensing his malicious thoughts. "My actions that day must have disappointed you greatly."
Li Qingfeng looked at him, his eyes filled with hatred that he could no longer conceal.
Li Ye did not argue, stood up, walked to the other end of the table, and faced him. Still looking down from above, he spoke in a calm tone, "You can hate me, resent me, and shift all the blame onto me, but that won't change how your foolish arrogance and hypocritical pride have led to the deaths of so many innocent lives."
Li Qingfeng looked at him, trembling all over. "If it weren't for Your Majesty letting the tiger return to the mountain, how could those people have died? I have devoted myself to serving the country loyally, but unfortunately, I followed the wrong master! If I had been begging for mercy from Prime Minister Jiang from the very beginning, how could I have only been a Censor after seven years? It is my foolishness!"
Li Ye was not angry; he was momentarily taken aback before smiling and saying, "Perhaps you think you are loyal to me, but you have held your position for seven years. Have you fulfilled your duties as a Censor? If you truly had ambition, how could you not know that even if you wanted to eliminate the Prime Minister, there are countless ways to do so?
Yet you chose a method that would bring ruin to both yourself and others. How can I trust you and promote you? I have not seen your noble spirit, but I have deeply felt your arrogance. Perhaps you think that remaining silent until the right moment will astonish everyone, but my country does not need such talent."
Li Qingfeng was left speechless, unsure of how to respond.
Li Ye sighed, "I ascended to the throne at a young age. To others, it seems like I enjoy endless Wealth and Glory, but who understands the true taste of it? If any minister in court disobeys Jiang Huai, they face exile or worse—losing their heads. As the Son of Heaven, unless one is truly naive and foolish, how could one not understand the consequences of rebellion?"
"Your Majesty means..." Li Qingfeng seemed to grasp something.
"I am determined to obtain Jiang Huai's head," Li Ye said firmly. "But not now. I keep you in the palace for two reasons: first, to protect your life; second, if you want me to trust you, you must show some sincerity."
"Does Your Majesty still not trust me?"
Li Qingfeng was somewhat agitated. "I just dared to offend Your Majesty boldly; fortunately, Your Majesty reprimanded me fiercely. I have been awakened like a splash of cold water. Now I carry deep enmity and only ask for an opportunity from Your Majesty to take revenge on my enemies."
"This matter can be discussed at length later. For now, I need you to handle something for me. Come closer."
In the Imperial Study, there was a profound silence—so quiet it felt as if a storm were about to break.
At the Prime Minister's Residence, Jiang Huai lay on a couch in casual attire. Musicians played melodies in the room while he held a charming woman in his arms, listening to light tunes and sipping wine. Life was quite carefree for him.
"Prime Minister, you are so bad..." The woman in his arms was Qimeng, a newly favored courtesan from the Flower Pavilion, skilled in singing and playing instruments. What people loved most about her were her delicate hands, which could enchant anyone.
Jiang Huai's hands kneaded her tender body as he smiled lewdly, "You little vixen, isn't it that you like me being this bad?"
Qimeng shyly buried her face in Jiang Huai's embrace, but her petite tongue lightly licked his neck through his clothes, intoxicating him.
Jiang Huai inhaled sharply, disregarding the presence of others around them, and leaned in closer, "You little temptress, I’ll make you feel thoroughly satisfied."
"Bang." The door was kicked open from the outside.
Startled, Qimeng let out a sharp scream, and the musicians quickly stopped playing their instruments.
Angered by the interruption, Jiang Huai furiously exclaimed, "Who dares to barge in without permission?"
The newcomer leisurely replied, "Prime Minister Jiang, you have quite the authority."
Even someone who disregarded the emperor like Jiang Huai now seemed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He pushed the woman in his arms away and stood up, bending slightly to straighten his clothes. He smiled obsequiously and said, "Madam, why are you back so soon? Didn't you say you would be at Wansheng Temple for half a month to fulfill your vows?"
"Hmph! If I hadn't come back, I wouldn't have known how lively the residence is now. I didn't even know we had such a beautiful guest like Ruo Er here." The newcomer was none other than Jiang Huai's legitimate wife, Jiang Li.
She was also known as the 'Lioness of Hedong' in the Heavenly Universe Kingdom. Born into an official family, she could read and write at three years old and composed poetry by five. By ten, she had won debates against scholars from Hanlin Academy.
However, after turning twelve, she developed a great interest in martial arts. At fifteen, she disguised herself as a man to fight in battles. When discovered, she nearly faced execution by the Predecessor Emperor but was saved by Jiang Huai, who was then the Crown Prince's Protector. Their bond led to an arranged marriage sanctioned by the Predecessor Emperor, resulting in a beautiful union.
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