Mingyue himself is an expert at hiding his movements; as long as he doesn’t make a move, we will find it hard to track him."Ye Li’s smile was chilling cold, "If there are weaknesses, then capturing hi...280. The Feng Family Seized

280. The Feng Family Seized

The Empress suddenly went missing in the palace, which was definitely a major event that would shock both the court and the country. Although it wasn’t known why Emperor Mo Jingli sealed off this news within certain limits, those who knew about it couldn't help but speculate privately. Therefore, when Duke Huo rushed into the imperial palace to receive the message, everyone he met on his way gave the old general sympathetic looks.

When the former Regent Wang Mo Liufang was still alive and even during the time when Duke Huo was young, the Huo family enjoyed great respect and prominence. Even though the Ding王府 could not be called the first prominent family in the Chu Dynasty, it was definitely one of the top families. However, since Mo Liufang passed away and Duke Huo grew old, everyone with eyes to see could tell that the Huo family was gradually being suppressed by the emperor. Despite having a daughter as the Empress, there were no signs of improvement for the family. Now, the Empress, who was about to become the Dowager Empress, had suddenly gone missing—how could this not stir sympathy in people's hearts

When Duke Huo arrived, Mo Jingli was already in a side chamber of the Empress’s palace. Upon receiving news of the Empress’s disappearance, he hurriedly came to confirm it himself. After all, once Prince Ten ascended to the throne, the Empress and the Huo family would most likely gain control, which would be very disadvantageous for them. If the Empress really did go missing, there would no longer be any excuse for the Huo family to participate in court affairs. Duke Huo was old, and those remaining in the Huo family didn't have the qualifications.

"Old minister greets the Regent." Duke Huo bowed tremblingly.

Mo Jingli hurried forward to personally help up Duke Huo: "I am truly ashamed to make Old Duke come all the way to the palace. I hope you won't be angry with me."

Duke Huo’s eyes immediately welled up with tears, "Your Majesty is too kind. When the Empress suddenly went missing, how could I not come Poor Empress... In this strict imperial palace, how did it happen that she would..."

Mo Jingli's face stiffened; he had always known this old Duke Huo was no ordinary person. Just from these two sentences, the responsibility was being pushed onto him. Now that the guards in the capital and the palace were under his control, if Duke Huo insisted it was due to his inadequate command, there would be nothing anyone could do about it. It might even make people suspect he had secretly interfered with something against the Empress's interest.

"Old Duke, please don't worry. I believe my sister-in-law is a lucky person destined for good fortune and will surely overcome any misfortune. Please sit down to talk." Even though Mo Jingli wished the Empress would never return, he had to say these words on the surface. However, such consolation clearly did not help Duke Huo at all; the old man with white hair continued to sob about his Empress, his face wet with tears, stirring sympathy in everyone who saw him.

There were quite a few people present in the hall, including high-ranking concubines from the Dowager Empress’s palace and members of the royal family. Seeing Duke Huo's miserable state, others couldn't bear to ask more questions. The Dowager Empress had no such qualms; she shouted out, "I heard that Duke Huo just came from Ding王府, but I wonder what business brought him there at this time"

Everyone in the room looked a bit surprised as if the Dowager Empress had become an entirely different person since declaring the will. If originally the Dowager Empress still possessed the shrewdness and composure of a powerful woman, now she seemed like an ordinary ignorant lady. Lady Consort Liu sitting beside her lips curved up with a barely noticeable smile, seemingly more advantageous than the Dowager Empress. After initial panic and shock, she quickly calmed down as she knew how to ensure her survival.

Duke Huo looked at the Dowager Empress with a mournful expression, his voice full of sorrow: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I heard news about the Empress’s disappearance and rushed to Ding王府 seeking help from Prince Ding out of desperation. It's all my fault for not thinking it through; please punish me."

Everyone looked awkward; how could anyone blame him after such an admission Moreover, before Mo Jinqi passed away, he had restored all the status and reputation of the Ding王府. Although Mo Xiuyao refused to accept them, as officials of the Chu Dynasty they couldn't ignore this fact. Given the status and identity of the Ding王府, it was not unreasonable for Duke Huo to seek help from there upon hearing about the Empress’s disappearance.

Mo Jingli frowned slightly, looking at Duke Huo kindly: "Old Duke, you worry too much. Your actions in this matter were appropriate; what crime is there I wonder what Prince Ding said"

The Dowager Empress, whose face twisted from being rebuffed by Mo Jingli, didn’t say anything more. Duke Huo sighed and said: "This was sudden; Prince Ding just received the news as well and has already sent people to investigate. I believe we will soon have some news."

Seeing Duke Huo so anxious and worried, everyone did not dare to ask more questions. Only Mo Jingli and a few royal relatives followed him to comfort him for a while. Over the years, Empress had always acted with propriety and decorum, earning her quite some prestige within the imperial family. However, after thanking them one by one, Duke Huo said no more.

"Duke, please wait," At the palace gate, just as Duke Huo was about to leave the palace and return home, someone came rushing up from behind and stopped him. Turning around, Duke Huo looked at the unfamiliar palace maid before him indifferently and asked, "What is it" The young palace maid was no more than fourteen or fifteen years old, but she still felt quite intimidated by a seasoned general like Duke Huo. Lowering her head in haste, she said, "Consort Noblewoman requests that Duke Huo come over for a chat."

Duke Huo coldly replied, "Our Huo family has no relations with Consort Noblewoman, and there is nothing to discuss. Moreover, these days are full of troubles; it's inconvenient for an old man like me to casually enter the harem."

Seeing him about to leave, she hurriedly said, "Duke Huo, please wait. The noblewoman has instructed that it concerns Empress and requests your presence."

Duke Huo's expression turned solemn; he glanced coldly at the palace maid before folding his arms and said, "Miss, lead the way ahead."

Finally completing her task as ordered by Consort Noblewoman, the young palace maid secretly let out a sigh of relief and quickly led Duke Huo to meet Consort Noblewoman.

The small palace maid did not take Duke Huo to the palace where Consort Noblewoman resided but instead brought him to an inconspicuous corner in the palace. Along the way, they didn't encounter anyone; this alone indicated that Consort Noblewoman was different from Empress Dowager. Even now, Consort Noblewoman still had deep connections and authority within the harem. In such a situation... Duke Huo's heart sank. If Consort Noblewoman truly knew about Queen's disappearance...

"Old minister greets Consort Noblewoman," Sitting beneath the eaves of an abandoned palace, Consort Noblewoman looked as aloof and ethereal as ever, like a fairy from the heavens. Duke Huo didn't particularly like Consort Noblewoman, not because his daughter was her rival for Mo Xiuyao's affection. It was rather due to Consort Noblewoman exuding an air of arrogance even when she was still in her teens, as though everyone else wasn’t worthy enough to be noticed by her. He could not fathom where such an attitude came from and why it made so many people uncomfortable. Therefore, Duke Huo had also seen Consort Noblewoman's affection for Mo Xiuyao back then but never thought much of it. How could a young nobleman like Prince Ding ever look at such an arrogant woman, even if she was exceedingly beautiful

"Duke Huo, you may rise," Consort Noblewoman turned her head and said indifferently.

Duke Huo stood up without being too polite and asked, "Why did the noblewoman summon this old minister What is it"

Consort Noblewoman smiled faintly and looked at Duke Huo as she asked in a leisurely voice, "Duke, how is Empress"

Duke Huo's eyes narrowed, and he responded sternly, "Your minister doesn't understand what the noblewoman means by this."

"If you truly don’t know, why would Duke Huo come to see me" Consort Noblewoman said with her gaze lowered, "Without concrete evidence, how could I have summoned the duke By coincidence last night, a maid in my palace passed through the imperial garden and saw someone leaving with something. A corner of that object was visible; it seemed to be the phoenix-patterned brocade that only Empress can wear. Even more coincidentally… although she didn’t recognize him, her description helped me recall some details,"

Duke Huo coldly said, "Your minister doesn't know what Consort Noblewoman is talking about. If you have nothing else to say, please excuse your humble servant from leaving."

Consort Noblewoman’s frosty eyes flashed with a fierce light as she sneered, "Empress is currently in Prince Ding's residence, isn’t she The person who took Empress away last night was Feng San. Doesn't Duke Huo care at all"

Duke Huo turned around and sneered back, "If the noblewoman is so confident, why not directly report to Prince Li or Empress Dowager Instead of worrying about my family and Empress, Consort Noblewoman should worry more about herself. The late emperor’s will... isn’t that easy to alter."

Consort Noblewoman's expression immediately darkened as she watched Duke Huo turn away. She clenched the peach flower in her hand until it was shattered into pieces, its pale red juice staining her delicate hands.

In Prince Ding’s residence, Mo Xiuyao frowned upon receiving the message sent by Duke Huo through an envoy and casually threw the letter aside on a nearby table.

Ye Li picked it up and frowned, saying, "How did Concubine Liu find out about this."

"He could kidnap the Empress from the palace without any plan. You can't expect him to be rational. It's not surprising that he was found out. Besides... There might be someone more experienced around Concubine Liu," Mo Xiuyao said.

"Someone more experienced" Ye Li was surprised, she really couldn’t think of anyone who could be considered an expert in the deep palace by Concubine Liu’s side. Could it be that there were indeed hidden dragons and tigers within the palace

Mo Xiuyao calmly said, "Concubine Liu has always prided herself on her talent. If we talk about literary talent, she might really have some merit. But if we talk about scheming, she falls short by far. These few incidents don’t seem to be her handiwork." Unlike many of the gentlewomen from prominent families, Concubine Liu could truly say that everything had gone smoothly for her all her life—she was pampered and loved. When she was in the Os family, it was during their most powerful period, and as the only daughter of her generation, she was also exceptionally beautiful. Back then, the Os family really doted on her, otherwise they wouldn’t have raised such an arrogant nature in her. After entering the palace, she had been indulged by Mo Jingqi without any principles, so she didn’t need to use her brain to compete with others; she could indulge herself as she pleased. As for scheming, Concubine Liu was indeed lacking, otherwise she wouldn’t have aroused his suspicion at the end of his life and failed to achieve anything.

Ye Li did not know Concubine Liu well, but after a few confrontations, Ye Li could feel that Concubine Liu wasn’t good at scheming. It was obvious from how she clung onto Mo Xiuyao. After thinking for a moment, Ye Li asked, "Do you suspect anyone"

Mo Xiuyao smiled and bluntly said, "Tan Jizhi."

"Tan Jizhi" Ye Li was taken aback; she hadn’t mentioned this name in a long time. After Shumanlin was killed by Princess Anxi, Tan Jizhi’s whereabouts became unknown. Then Ren Qining appeared, which made them shift their attention from Tan Jizhi. However, they never expected that Tan Jizhi would re-emerge and infiltrate the capital.

Mo Xiuyao said, "Tan Jizhi quietly stayed by Mo Jingqi’s side for ten years. Since he wasn’t truly loyal to him these past ten years, it’s impossible that he didn’t do anything at all, right So I guess… He not only knows Su Zuiedie and Concubine Liu but also might be acquainted with Mo Jinglei."

At this, Ye Li was shocked. She frowned, saying, "Then the medicine Mo Jinglei brought back from Southern Frontier..."

"It’s information that Tan Jizhi leaked to him," Mo Xiuyao said, "The Holy Land of Southern Frontier has always been in Shumanlin's hands; Princess Qixia is also Princess Anxi’s sister. It’s impossible for Shumanlin not to be cautious towards her. The news about the medicine existing only came from either Tan Jizhi or Shumanlin."

Ye Li fell silent, if that was true, Mo Jingqi's death wouldn’t have been without Tan Jizhi's involvement. Rubbing her temples, Ye Li had to admit that she wasn't suited for these kinds of underhanded schemes: "If this is the case… what do you think Tan Jizhi and Concubine Liu are up to now"

Mo Xiuyao shook his head and said nonchalantly, "Don’t worry. If they wanted to spread that information, they wouldn’t have gone to talk to Duke Guo instead. Since this is the case, they must be seeking something; we don't need to do anything, as they’ll come to us."

He sat in the Ding王府 (Ding Manor), so even if Mo Jinglei truly suspected that the Empress was in the Ding Manor, would he dare to search Moreover, it's possible that Mo Jinglei wished that they would take the Empress away to have a handle on the Huo family. Mo Xiuyao did not want to interfere with matters in the capital city, so he generally let things be. However, Feng Zhiyao and the Empress meant something different to him compared to ordinary people; since Feng Zhiyao had brought someone out, it was only natural that he wouldn't mind taking some action.

Ye Li frowned and said, "Regardless of anything else, having someone secretly watching us is unsettling."

Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "Since you find it uncomfortable, just get rid of him."

"Your Highness, Lady. Something’s happened," Zhuo Jing rushed in without time to pay his respects.

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, asking, "What's going on"

"The Feng family has been seized," Zhuo Jing reported.

Mo Xiuyao glanced at Zhuo Jing indifferently and asked, "How is this important" Although the Feng family was one of the four richest families in Dachu and Feng Zhiyao’s home, they were not part of the Ding Manor. Therefore, whether or not the Feng family was seized didn’t matter much to Mo Xiuyao.

Zhuo Jing was also a bit embarrassed. As soon as he got the news, he hurriedly came in to report it. He forgot that the Feng family had no connection with the Ding Prince's王府除了與鳳三公子的關係之外，和定王府根本冇有關係。葉璃淺笑道：“算了，還是告訴鳳三一聲吧，畢竟是他的親生父親。”

Zhuo Jing responded, but before he could turn and leave, Feng Zhirao already appeared at the door. He said in a cold tone, "No need to bother, I already know." Feng Zhirao walked in with Empress Xian one after another; both of them looked rather displeased. Evidently, Feng Zhirao had rushed over upon hearing about the incident. Although his face still appeared pale, the dejected look in his eyes was greatly diminished. Feng Zhirao apologized to Mo Xiuyao, "Prince Regent..."

Mo Xiuyao waved his hand and smiled somewhat insincerely, "No need for an apology to this prince. No one dares cause trouble for me now in the Chu capital. If you feel no guilt toward the Feng family, should we prepare to return to Li City"

Feng Zhirao sighed inwardly. He had little affection towards his family, but it wasn't at a point where he didn't care when they were being punished for his actions. In truth, there was no deep hatred between him and the Feng family; merely that they chose different paths in life. This time around, however, the Feng family truly got entangled because of himself.

"This subordinate will certainly resolve this matter," Feng Zhirao said softly.

Mo Xiuyao looked at him sideways and asked sarcastically, "How do you plan to solve it Robbing the imperial palace again Or confessing that you, Feng Third Young Master, stole the Empress"

Feng Zhirao silently stared at Mo Xiuyao, who was lounging lazily. After decades of acquaintance, he knew Mo Xiuyao well enough to understand his intentions. However, this did not ease his unease. The current situation had been caused by his own rashness. If he had held back and discussed it with Mo Xiuyao first, the latter might have helped him rather than hindered him. Now that he was making mistakes, he needed the Ding Prince's王府to handle them for him, which made Feng Zhirao regret his hasty actions.

"Don't give this prince such a look. Bring Tan Jizhi to the Ding Prince's王府within three hours or else..." The implication of threats was left unsaid.

Feng Zhirao perked up and loudly declared, "This subordinate will comply." He then glanced at Empress Xian sitting by the side. She smiled faintly and said, "You go do your work first. I'll chat with Prince Regent and Lady Wang."

Hearing this, Feng Zhirao's face brightened, his tone lightening considerably as he told her, "Wait for me, I’ll be back soon." With brisk steps, he left the flower hall, showing no signs of injury.

Empress Xian sighed helplessly as she watched him leave in a crimson robe. She apologized to Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, saying, "I’ve caused you trouble."

Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows and said, "Feng Third has been under my control for over a decade; helping him resolve some issues is nothing unusual. I don’t want to hear anything else besides waiting for Feng Third’s return. If he returns and you’re not here, this prince might lose a capable general."

Empress Xian couldn't help but smile and shook her head, "After so many years, your relationship with A Yao hasn’t changed. Thank you for taking care of him all these years."

Mo Xiuyao waved his hand nonchalantly, saying, "Feng Third isn’t just a subordinate to the Ding Prince's王府but also a brother I grew up alongside." Perhaps Xu Qingchen was more intelligent than Feng Zhirao, and perhaps Zhang Qilan and others were better at waging wars. But only Feng Zhirao had grown up with him, accompanying him through some of his most painful years. Such camaraderie in life is rare; there might have been a few such friends once, but none remained unchanged over the years except for Feng Zhirao.

—— Interlude ——nly lacked numerical superiority and truly excellent commanders. Preparing for a battle with the Mo Army meant being prepared to pay a heavy price. Now that the Black Cloud Cavalry had joined them as...