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In the end, it was the Chancellor who could no longer hold back and spoke up, "I wonder how His Majesty has considered this matter."
A glint of malice flashed in his eyes. Li Ye felt displeased; at that moment, he seemed more like their servant, ready to obey their commands. Suppressing his emotions, he slowly replied, "I still need to consider this matter, but I hope you can release Mo Xier."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huai couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "Your Majesty, you must understand that we are not negotiating with you right now!"
His expression suddenly turned cold, like the chill of winter in the twelfth month, making it hard for anyone to approach. However, standing before him were Jiang Huai and the Old General, two individuals who were inherently ruthless and ambitious; how could they fear his imposing presence?
His voice was icy, like a sharp blade piercing directly at Jiang Huai. "Are you threatening me?"
Jiang Huai slightly bent forward, hands clasped before his chest, bowing to Li Ye with a look of being wronged on his old face. "Your Majesty, saying such things truly wrongs this old minister. I act this way for your sake.
If it weren't for the Former Emperor and Consort Hua taking you away from me, causing you and my sister to be separated and her to miss you day and night—at just forty years old, her once black Azure Silk hair has already turned thick with white hair—Your Majesty, have you ever thought about the pain my sister feels for her child?"
Indeed, Jiang Huai's words successfully made Li Ye retract his earlier malice; a hint of reluctance appeared on his face as a soft spot in his heart was struck. It felt as if he were being reminded that he was a child of the Night Family and should bring glory to them.
"Since what happened back then has become an unchangeable fact, why must you insist? Why must you turn this world into night?" At this point, Li Ye's gaze suddenly turned cold. "Could it be that you have some unspeakable secret?"
Before Jiang Huai could respond, the Old General interjected, "This is not an unchangeable fact. If it weren't for the Li Family seizing my child, why would your mother and I have to go through all this? They have kept us apart for so many years; why can't I stir up turmoil for the Li Family?"
"You?" Li Ye looked at the Old General in disbelief.
The Old General's round figure appeared particularly pale against his head full of white hair. At that moment, he resembled an elderly man who had endured countless hardships. His thick voice carried a hint of weeping that softened Li Ye's hardened heart.
He is still his father after all. How difficult must it have been for them to not see their own son for so many years?
His voice was no longer as resolute as before, revealing a hint of helplessness. "But now the country is at peace, and I have no excuse to change Nation Name!"
"This is easy to handle. As long as we come up with a complete plan, we can definitely ensure this matter is resolved smoothly." Upon hearing his words soften, Jiang Huai immediately encouraged him.
He hesitated and did not speak. In fact, he was also extremely conflicted. On one hand was the woman he had been thinking about day and night, and on the other was the gradually aging face of Empress Dowager.
She had treated him well. Memories from his childhood flooded his mind like waves in a river, filled with her gentle smile and the way she had fought to protect him when other concubines had schemed against him. That noble and graceful face now bore faint wrinkles.
Although the palace was not lacking in beauty products for women, time passed swiftly, and it could not resist the gradual appearance of white strands among her black hair.
Since ascending to the throne, he had not interfered in court affairs anymore; this was a sign of respect for her. She had entrusted all power to him, showing such trust in him, but he...
Though she was not his biological mother, she surpassed even a biological mother. Thinking of this deepened Li Ye's guilt; he felt like a child caught in an affair.
"Your Majesty, if you continue to hesitate, Princess Fuyuan may not have time to wait for your indecision!" Old General observed Li Ye's face shifting from gloomy to sunny, then smiling and angry!
His patience was running thin. He was so intelligent; how could he not know what the emperor was thinking at this moment?
The thought that he had developed feelings for that woman in the palace ignited his anger.
How could it be? How could his child develop feelings for someone else?
Indeed, as soon as Old General finished speaking, Li Ye darkly asked, "What do you mean?"
"I just want to tell you that the life and death of Princess Fuyuan completely depend on your decision." After saying this, he looked at Li Ye, a fierce expression flashing across his face. "Her life and death are entirely in the hands of the Emperor."
Gritting his teeth as he glared at the person who threatened him time and again, Li Ye wished he could kill him with one strike. "If you dare to touch even a hair on Mo Xi'er's head, I will not spare you."
The thought of that woman—sometimes weak, sometimes heroic, sometimes playful and cute, sometimes cold—being killed by this man made Li Ye's heart sink.
"Your Majesty, I have said that as long as you follow our plan, we will not harm Princess Fuyuan."
Old General looked at Li Ye and slowly said, "Moreover, she is the one you love, yet your thoughts are on someone else. Are you willing to let her go to another?"
It seemed he had hit a sore spot with Li Ye, who stared blankly at Old General. "How can I be willing?"
"Since you are unwilling, why not let her beloved come to solidify your position and then take her back?"
Suddenly, Li Ye's eyes lit up. "How do we take her back?"
"Now all countries are eyeing each other warily; you cannot afford to lose Night Star by your side. He is currently your trump card and must not be antagonized. We should first win him over temporarily. Once the country is stable, we can find a reason to strip him of his Military Authority. I believe he won't be able to say much about it."
Old General spoke convincingly; if one overlooked the malice in his eyes, one might truly believe he was thinking of the country.
"What about the Empress Dowager?" Thinking of the Empress Dowager made Li Ye feel uneasy.
Jiang Huai, who had remained silent until now, could no longer tolerate Li Ye's submissiveness. He said sternly, "To achieve great things, how can one be so submissive? Have you not considered that the Empress Dowager already knows your identity? Can she still treat you as she did before? Can she allow you to sit securely on this throne?"
Li Ye's heart skipped a beat as he looked at the Chancellor in disbelief. That's right; how had he not thought of this? The current Empress Dowager likely could not genuinely care for him anymore.
As soon as he thought his throne was threatened, the hesitation in his eyes vanished, replaced by a fierce glint in his dark pupils. He became like his former self, with no warmth in his expression.
Sitting straight on the Sandalwood chair, he radiated an air of cold authority. "There is no need for such harsh words, Chancellor. Regardless of whose child I am, I am still the Emperor of the Heavenly Universe Kingdom. I hope you will be mindful of your words."
Jiang Huai was taken aback and took a step back, placing his hands in front of his chest and bowing slightly. "It was my overstep!"
His cold gaze swept over the Chancellor as he picked up the memorial on the table. After a brief glance, a smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth. "What difficulty is there in changing the Nation Name? As long as it belongs to me, no one can take it away!"
His gaze lingered on the memorial for a long time, but it was a report submitted by Liu Qiankun. The brief two lines indicated that the Empress Dowager had frequently summoned officials from the former dynasty today.
However, he had no way of knowing what this was about.
Since learning of his identity, Li Ye had sent people to secretly monitor the Empress Dowager. Though he felt reluctant, he was not foolish.
What he feared most was that the Empress Dowager would suddenly turn against him; at that point, he would become a target for everyone. Wouldn't that be a loss?
Jiang Huai and the Old General were both stunned, looking at Li Ye in disbelief. Seeing no expression on his face made them question whether they had misheard.
They exchanged glances and shook their heads; if one person could mishear, it was possible, but if two heard it wrong, that was impossible.
With this thought in mind, Jiang Huai stepped forward and tentatively asked, "Does this mean you agree, Your Majesty?"
His narrow eyes narrowed tightly together, cold as if a long sword were shooting out from the small slits. He looked at them without speaking for a long time before slowly uttering one word: "Yes."
The dim Cell only allowed a faint light to filter through. Outside, the sky was eerily silent and still blanketed in white mist; it was impossible to discern where it led. All he knew was that through the iron bars, he could see several pale white trees.
Mo Xier stood by the window, puzzled as she gazed into the distance. Could that be a forest?
Her delicate face was covered in dust, and her pale pink dress was already filthy. Her long black hair had become tangled and hung in strands over her shoulders.
Suddenly, she recalled a girl from her college dorm who often went days without washing her hair, the odor so strong it could be detected from afar.
She had been thinking of a gentle way to remind her, but another girl had said, "The oil in your hair could fry a dish."
Mo Xier still remembered the twitching expression on that girl's face; after that, she never smelled that odor again.
Looking down at her own hair, Mo Xier couldn't help but mutter, "I’m afraid the oil in my hair could also fry a dish."
While she was lost in thought, Mo Xier suddenly heard footsteps outside. Startled, she quickly got up from the ground and moved toward the iron door. Just as she reached it, the footsteps stopped.
A small, youthful voice came from outside, "Miss."
That voice? So familiar.
Mo Xier strained to recall and finally reacted, "Is that you, Little Bean Sprout?"
"Miss, I’m here to bring you your meal," came the hesitant reply from outside. "I've left the food outside the door; you can eat it whenever you're ready."
After saying this, the footsteps began to move away. Hearing this, Mo Xier panicked and called out, "Wait! Hold on!"
Standing by the iron door, Mo Xier couldn't see Little Bean Sprout and could only call out urgently. Sure enough, the footsteps stopped at the entrance. "Miss?"
"Can you tell me where this is?"
Her voice carried a hint of pleading. God knows being locked in this godforsaken place was driving her mad. At the very least, she wanted to know where she was.
The voice outside sounded fearful and weak as it said, "Miss, please don't ask too many questions. I can't tell you!" As soon as the words left her mouth, it seemed like someone was chasing her from behind, and she hurriedly fled.
Suddenly, there was no sound outside. Mo Xier fell to the ground like a deflated balloon, leaning against the cold wall, her entire being devoid of life.
What she really wanted to ask was, why not bring me some food? With this tightly shut stone door, how am I supposed to eat?
She had been locked up for three days and had gone without food for three days; she had no strength left. Just when someone finally brought food, it couldn't reach her mouth.
Frustrated, she rubbed her beautiful head. The farthest distance in the world is not between life and death but having delicious food in front of you that you cannot enjoy!
Inside the Night Manor's ancestral hall, a smoky atmosphere filled her nostrils as Little Bean Sprout pushed open the door. A wave of acrid smoke rushed at her, making her cough violently.
Her bright, clear eyes were also irritated by the thick smoke, and due to the intense coughing, tears streamed down her pale cheeks, making anyone who saw her feel pity.
With misty eyes, she looked at the Old Madam who was still calmly turning the sandalwood prayer beads, showing no signs of discomfort despite the smoke filling the room.
Realizing her own lapse in composure, Little Bean Sprout forced herself to endure the choking sensation and walked over to the Old Madam. In a still somewhat childish voice, she said, "Old Madam, I have delivered the meal to Miss Mo."
With her eyelids lowered, she dared not look at the person kneeling on the gray soft mat. The wrinkled hands continued to slowly turn the prayer beads, but suddenly the lips that had been chanting the Sutra shifted to another question: "What was her reaction?"
"She asked me what this place is." Seemingly sensing something, Little Bean Sprout quickly added, "But I didn't tell her; I just left after placing down the food."
The white streaks in her hair had become increasingly prominent, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes revealed her age at a glance. As she grew older, her body had become swollen and frail, and despite her daily care, she could not hide her aging appearance.
The prayer beads in her hand stopped moving, and with a cold, harsh gaze fixed on the memorial tablet before her, she spoke in a chilling tone, "Very well, I want to see how she plans to walk out alive!"
If she managed to escape once, could she escape a second time?
That place was specifically constructed at great expense by her brother. The Dark Iron inside was forged over a thousand years; even a Martial Arts Master could not break that tough Dark Iron, let alone a weak woman.
Suddenly recalling the woman's white hair, Old Madam's heart tightened. Could it be that the legends were true?
Thick smoke stung Little Bean Sprout's eyes, causing tears to flow, but in front of Old Madam, she could only endure. "Old Madam, since you have sent me to deliver food to her, why not let her eat?"
The sharp gaze suddenly turned toward her, piercing through and making her instinctively take a step back. She hurriedly knelt on the ground and apologized, "I'm sorry, Old Madam. I spoke out of turn."
With an undeniable authority in her tone, Old Madam replied, "Since you know you spoke incorrectly, be more careful. This General's residence is not like any other place. If you cause trouble because of your careless words, be careful I don't snap your neck."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A fresh red mark suddenly appeared on her pale forehead as she repeatedly knocked her head against the ground, her voice trembling with fear. "I'm sorry, Old Madam. It won't happen again. I will speak cautiously and will not cause trouble for the General's residence or for you."
As if to prove her loyalty, her head knocked loudly against the cold floor, echoing clearly in the empty room.
Suppressing the anger on her face, Old Madam lightly chuckled as she stood up and helped Little Bean Sprout, who was still bowing repeatedly. She gently said, "Alright, I'm not blaming you; I'm just reminding you of what should and shouldn't be said."
After a pause, with no expression on her face as before, she continued, "As for that Demoness, of course I won't let her starve; I just want her to experience what it feels like to wish for death."
The cold eyes narrowed slightly; she knew that Mo Xier regarded food as her lifeline, and seeing something to eat would drive her to desperation. What kind of expression would she have if she could see food but couldn't swallow it?
In the dimly lit, completely dark chamber, Mo Xier stood in front of the iron bars, staring into the pitch-black void, feeling a chill in her heart. How long would she be confined here?
Rubbing her already hollow stomach, she weakly collapsed onto the ground. Her pale pink dress had long since been stained, turning completely black.
Looking at her dirty and disheveled appearance, Willow Brows frowned slightly. Suddenly, a commotion came from outside the chamber. Mo Xier glanced at the direction of the door before withdrawing her gaze.
No matter who was coming, they wouldn't let her out; it was better to conserve some energy.
"Who are you? Why have you brought me here?" An angry voice accompanied by a mature tone rang out.
Huh?
Mo Xier was taken aback; that voice... Empress Dowager?
Before she could react, the iron door swung open with a chilling sound like a sharp knife, devoid of any warmth. The person entering showed no leniency because the Empress Dowager was a woman, roughly throwing her inside. "You should just stay here quietly and not ask too many questions."
"Scoundrel!" Suppressing the pain in her injured arm, the violent movement caused the dark blue tassels on her headpiece to jingle sharply. Her voice was filled with intense fury, as if she wanted to burn these people alive.
"I am the Empress Dowager of the Heavenly Universe Kingdom! How dare you treat me this way? It seems you have lived too long."
The newcomer snorted disdainfully through his nose. His dark face appeared particularly fierce due to a prominent scar, showing no signs of softness just because she was the Empress Dowager. "Hmph, once you're here, it doesn't matter if you're an emperor or not; you will lie down for me. Empress Dowager? If you don't obey, I’ll make you a dead Empress Dowager."
Indeed, the words of the newcomer caused the Empress Dowager to shrink back slightly, her tone losing its earlier arrogance. "Who are you?"
Her words, however, went unanswered. The newcomer glanced at her disdainfully before coldly shutting the door. Along with the Empress Dowager, a few dirty buns were thrown in.
Although it wasn't a feast, for Mo Xier, any food felt like a blessing. Her eyes lit up as she stared at the buns, but then she turned her gaze to the Empress Dowager, who was sitting on the ground in a daze.
With a slight sigh, she got up and walked in front of the Empress Dowager, slowly saying, "Empress Dowager, it's better not to struggle. Escaping from this place will be extremely difficult."
"Mo Xier?" The surprise in her voice was no less than the expression Mo Xier had when she saw her being thrown in. "How did you end up here?"
At that moment, she was still wearing a deep purple palace outfit, with soaring phoenixes clearly visible on her sleeves. It was made of fine Lingyun Brocade, and it looked regal on her.
Her hair was neatly styled atop her head, but a few strands of white hair made her appear more weathered. However, thanks to the palace's upkeep, there were no visible wrinkles on her face except for some sagging under-eye bags; she looked to be around thirty years old.
The only adornment in her hair was a dark blue hairpin. Mo Xier glanced at her empty hands; the Crimson Prayer Beads that were always with her seemed to have been lost somewhere during her abduction.
Smiling, she helped the Empress Dowager up and shrugged. "Just as you thought, Empress Dowager, I was also abducted."
Only then did the Empress Dowager notice that Mo Xier's clothes were already tattered and that her once delicate face bore a large bruise. She stared at Mo Xier in confusion. "Why were you taken?"
"Perhaps for the same reason as you; they all have the same goal."
The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows, her expression hardening. "Who are these people?"
After helping the Empress Dowager sit down in a corner, Mo Xier stepped forward to pick up a few buns from the ground. She peeled off the blackened outer layer covered in dirt and took a bite with her small mouth.
However, in an instant, her face contorted; it was so hard!
In order to have something in her stomach, she had no choice but to break off pieces of the hard steamed bun and force herself to eat it.
A hint of surprise flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes. "You can eat this hard?"
"I can only do this to survive and leave here."
It seemed like she was speaking casually. She glanced at the Empress Dowager. "Have you never wondered why you were brought here?"
Shaking her head, the Empress Dowager initially looked confused, but then a glimmer of understanding crossed her face. "Could it be…"
Tilting her head slightly, Mo Xier looked at the Empress Dowager's suddenly brightened eyes and asked, "Old Madam?"
"You know?"
Nodding, Mo Xier kept recalling everything she had seen in the ancestral hall. She felt that Old Madam was lying, and there was also that sudden appearance of Old General. There were too many doubts in this situation; it probably wasn't that simple.
A person who had been dead for over a decade suddenly came back to life—no one could believe that. Although Old General spoke convincingly about being alive, Mo Xier believed there must be something amiss.
And then there was Old Madam; she couldn't believe a mother could be indifferent to her own son. The coldness towards Night Star was attributed to the general's death, but he was her own flesh and blood—how could she be so indifferent?
Even though the Emperor was also her biological son, the treatment between these two was too different.
Unless… recalling the handkerchief she had seen earlier in the ancestral hall and glancing at the seemingly calm Empress Dowager, a thought flashed through her mind—could it really be true?
"What are you thinking?" A puzzled voice broke in. Mo Xier involuntarily looked up at the Empress Dowager, her gaze flickering uncomfortably.
She walked up to her and sat down on the cold ground. With delicate fingers, she pinched the steamed bun that she had crumbled into fine pieces and slowly said, "Don't you find it strange, Empress Dowager? The Emperor and Night Star?"
The previously calm emotions suddenly flared up, her tone colder than ever, like the chill of winter. "How did you know?"
Her sharp gaze fixed directly on Mo Xier, like a piercing sword aimed at her.
Meeting the Empress Dowager's icy eyes, a faint smile curved her thin lips, forming a stark contrast to the Empress Dowager's cold demeanor.
Her voice was light, lacking the flattery she had used in the palace, but it carried a sense of respect. "I suppose I am being held here for this reason as well. A clever person like you, Empress Dowager, wouldn't fail to realize that."
With her eyelids lowered, unease gradually rose within her. "What do you want to say?"
"I'm afraid they are already planning to change this Nation Name."
From the moment the Empress Dowager was imprisoned, Mo Xier had guessed the underlying reasons. The ambitions of the Night Family were not small, and those of the Old General and the Chancellor were even greater. As for Old Madam?
That woman was fixated on her Jiaqing; as long as the Emperor remained securely in his position, she would allow her brother and the Old General to stir trouble.
"What?" A sharp voice rang out as the Empress Dowager abruptly stood up, looking at Mo Xier with disbelief. Then recalling the memorials received by the Emperor earlier, her heart tightened. "How dare they?"
Ignoring the Empress Dowager's anger, Mo Xier also stood up and looked at the Empress Dowager, whose body was trembling with rage. "What do they have to fear? The Empress Dowager is already imprisoned here. By the time you get out, this world may very well belong to the Night Family."
Panic filled her heart as the Empress Dowager hurried to the iron door and pounded on it forcefully, disregarding the pain in her hands. All she could think about was that she must not let the Li Family's realm fall into the hands of the Night Family!
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