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Western Yan Imperial Palace
When Mo Xiao Li arrived at Yun Jin Palace, the envoys from Nanyang were already waiting there. Upon seeing him, they all walked over and knelt in greeting. However, to Mo Xiao Li, none of this mattered; he walked straight to the dragon throne and sat down without even glancing at them, leaving them staring at each other.
After a moment, it was General Mu who first reacted and said to the envoys, "May I ask what brings you here?"
One of the apparent leaders stepped forward and cupped his hands in respect, saying, "Yan Emperor, I am here on behalf of all the people of Nanyang to express our gratitude."
He glanced at the items behind him and continued, "These items are merely a token of our appreciation. We hope Yan Emperor will accept them. Besides thanking you for what you did for our Nanyang Xianwang last time, we also have another matter that we hope you can understand."
"Oh? What issue does Nanyang have this time?" Mo Xiao Li narrowed his eyes and looked up and down at the few kneeling before him, speaking in a deep voice.
Seeing that he finally received a response, the envoy continued, "This matter isn't really significant; it's just that Nanyang has faced many difficulties in recent years, resulting in little harvest. Therefore, we would like to request your support for our country." He then knelt down, and those behind him followed suit.
This matter had not been heard of before, and Mo Xiao Li felt it was somewhat suspicious. However, with so many civil and military officials present, he contemplated how to speak in order to uncover their true intentions.
Just as he was pondering this, General Mu stepped forward and cupped his hands again, saying, "Your Majesty, historically, Western Yan has maintained good relations with Nanyang. Given that Nanyang is facing such issues today, we should help. However, none of us have heard about this matter before; it may just be a pretext. If we suffer losses because of this, it would not be good for Western Yan either. Therefore, I hope Your Majesty will think carefully—"
As soon as General Mu finished speaking, the lower-ranking officials all knelt down to request careful consideration. Meanwhile, the envoys from Nanyang exchanged glances with each other. The leading man continued, "Yan Emperor, you must believe my words. It is well known that Western Yan is strong and prosperous with vast fertile lands that yield good harvests every year. In contrast, Nanyang is located in a harsh climate where many people die from starvation each year due to lack of food. Have you not heard of this?"
"Impudent! Is this how an envoy should speak? Do you think you can act recklessly on Western Yan's territory?" A loud shout suddenly came from behind. Everyone turned to see the Empress Dowager entering with Consort Xi's support. The crowd hurriedly knelt in greeting.
However, the Empress Dowager paid no attention to them and fixed her gaze on the envoy from Nanyang. She continued, "Although matters in the court are not for me to decide and I do not wish to meddle in politics, you have come here today seeking our assistance yet show no regard for our Yan Emperor and speak disrespectfully. I see no sincerity in your words; if there is nothing else, you may return."
At this moment, everyone was quietly watching the scene. Mo Xiao Li thought for a moment, then stood up and walked in front of the Empress Dowager. After taking a deep look at Consort Xi beside her, he continued, "Empress Dowager, why have you come here at this time? Such matters should be left to me; you shouldn't let this upset your health."
The Empress Dowager sighed as she walked forward. After sitting down, she spoke again, "I only heard that Nanyang sent envoys, so I thought I should come and take a look. This is part of our etiquette, but I didn't expect to encounter such a situation."
The man at the forefront suddenly spoke up, "Earlier, I was a bit anxious and spoke out of turn. I ask for forgiveness from both the Yan Emperor and the Empress Dowager. However, before I left, Wise King instructed me to convey a message to you. Given the circumstances, it seems I must share it." He then looked directly at Mo Xiao Li.
Upon hearing the name Wise King, Mo Xiao Li's heart began to race uncontrollably. Anger surged within him as he turned around and stood in front of the man, saying furiously, "Do you really think I wouldn't dare to kill you?"
"Yan Emperor, spare my life. It’s just that this message is something Wise King ordered me to personally deliver to you," the man pleaded with his mouth, but there was no trace of fear in his eyes. This only fueled Mo Xiao Li's anger further. He raised his hand and struck the man's shoulder with such force that the sound of bones cracking echoed clearly in the quiet hall. Yet the man only broke into a cold sweat without uttering a single cry of pain.
After collapsing to the ground, the man continued, "Although I do not know why Yan Emperor rejects me so vehemently, even if it costs me my life today, I will deliver this message."
He paused before continuing, "Wise King said, 'If you wish to live, you must understand your heart.'" After saying this, he looked at him.
Mo Xiao Li suddenly froze in place. After being stunned for a moment, he walked over to the Empress Dowager and said, "I have something to attend to; I'll be leaving now." Without caring about the surprised gazes from everyone else, he walked straight out with Li Fusheng closely following behind him.
As they watched Mo Xiao Li leave, everyone in Yun Jin Palace was filled with confusion. No one knew why the emperor had suddenly acted this way, but no one dared to approach and ask.
After leaving Yun Jin Palace, Mo Xiao Li wandered aimlessly forward. His mind felt hazy; hearing those words again only confirmed his belief that he had been deceived by Mu Junqi. Thinking back on how he almost followed her in death due to her passing made him realize how foolish he had been at that time. While he was grieving here, some people were laughing elsewhere.
Before he knew it, he arrived at Qinxiang Garden. Looking up, he suddenly felt a wave of despondency wash over him. Even after such events had unfolded, he still found it hard to forget; even if it was hate, it could not compare to his love for her.
The more he thought about it, the more pathetic he felt. Anger surged through him as he stormed toward the palace gate and kicked open the door before stepping inside. The familiar scenery greeted his eyes; everything remained unchanged yet felt different. Pushing open the door to the bedroom seemed to reveal traces of her scent lingering in the air—no matter how much he tried to escape it, it would not dissipate. Sitting on the edge of the bed, his mind replayed all their past moments together.
After an unknown amount of time, he slowly stood up and looked around the entire room again, thinking to himself: Perhaps it is time to let go. Since you have been unkind, do not blame me for being heartless. Even though the person I have loved in this life has always been you, I cannot erase the fact that you betrayed me.
He then stepped forward and walked out with large strides, saying as he walked, "From now on, seal off Qinxiang Garden. No one is allowed to enter; otherwise, there will be no mercy!"
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