184 Father-son Rupture

e took from an open box beside her, nodding in satisfaction afterwards. "Very good.Mosiusiao hugged Ye Li and pressed his face against her round belly, listening to the lively movements of the baby in...Father and Son Rift

Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing left as ordered. Han Mingyue stared at Mo Xiuyao in shock for a long time, unable to speak. Mo Xiuyao rubbed his temples and threw aside the book he was holding before looking coldly at Han Mingyue. "Han Mingyue, you should know why I have tolerated you until now." Han Mingyue lowered his head and said with a bitter smile, "I know. Of course it's not because of our friendship." Mo Xiuyao said, "You should be grateful that you have such a good brother… You should also be grateful that Ah Li is recognized as Su Zuodie’s friend. Don’t cause him trouble; he can't always save you every time." Han Mingyue fell silent. He knew that during this period of time, Han Mingli had actually been in Ruyang City all along. Although the two brothers did not meet face to face, Han Mingli secretly took care of him and he was able to sense it. Because Han Mingli worried about hurting his pride, what he did was rarely known by him. It was likely that even secretly investigating Qilin's residence had been a favor arranged beforehand for him. Lowering his head with a faintly dejected expression, he said, "I am the one who is at fault."

Mo Xiuyao let out a soft snort. In this life, besides being infatuated with Su Zuodie to the point of stubbornness, had Han Mingyue truly treated anyone well

"Xiuyao... please, forgive Zuodie," Han Mingyue struggled to utter his plea. Earlier on, even if he had lowered himself, he still had leverage to negotiate with Mo Xiuyao. But now that he was left with nothing, all he could do was beg...

“Leave,” said Mo Xiuyao coldly.

"Xi... " Han Mingyue wanted to plead more, but saw a flash of crimson in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes. A powerful force hit him and before his words could come out, he was thrown out. He crashed heavily onto the courtyard outside, as the study door closed shut before his eyes. This time, Mo Xiuyao moved swiftly and mercilessly without any hesitation. Han Mingyue didn't even have a chance to defend himself and was directly knocked out of the room and fell to the ground with blood spurting from his mouth.

"Brother..." A dark red robe appeared silently beside Han Mingyue. When he looked up, he saw that Han Mingli's originally carefree face was filled with worry and sadness. Supporting himself on Han Mingli’s hand, he stood up, looking somewhat ashamed at his brother. He didn’t want to appear so disheveled in front of him, "Mingli, I'm sorry." Han Mingli shook his head silently as he looked at Han Mingyue. “Brother, don't waste your efforts. As long as Junwei doesn’t come back, no one can save Su Zuodie.” These days, Han Mingli had given up on trying to persuade his elder brother to forget about Su Zuodie and only told him that what he was currently doing wasn’t viable. "The reason why the Ding Wang still keeps Su Zuodie alive is not because he’s捨不得her." It’s just that he needs her to be alive, making it a favor to let Su Zuodie die easily. Just like how Mo's army had the ability to kill Marquis Mu Yang on the battlefield but Mo Xiuyao ordered him to be released instead. He didn’t know what was waiting for Marquis Mu Yang in the future.

"Ye Li is already dead," Han Mingyue clenched his teeth and said.

Han Mingli’s expression darkened as he said softly, "As long as you haven't seen her body with your own eyes, she hasn’t truly died. Brother, it's best if you pray that Junwei... won't be found by anyone... otherwise..." No one knew what Mo Xiuyao would do. Ever since Junwei’s incident, the feeling Mo Xiuyao gave off had been too unpredictable. Apart from initially killing those 7000 soldiers who were searching for Junwei and driving away the Great Chu army stationed in Feihong Pass, he hadn’t displayed any attitude towards the matter of his duchess's misfortune. But Han Mingli was a person close to the Ding Wang’s core circle. Even if Mo Xiuyao didn't say anything, he could vaguely sense that Mo Xiuyao was setting up a trap. When the day came for him to act, it would undoubtedly come with endless bloodshed.

"If the Ding Wang Consort..."

Han Mingli shook his head and said indifferently, "A dragon has scales that are easily offended; anyone who touches them will surely die. Brother, take care of yourself."

Emperor Taizu Mausoleum

In the cold imperial mausoleum, Tan Jizhi's face was even colder than the entire place. Being played by his ancestors made him feel frustrated and had nowhere to vent his anger. Ye Li also knew when not to provoke him and left along with the others from that white jade palace. Since Ye Li opened the door of the palace, all the mechanisms in the imperial mausoleum seemed to have disappeared, including the bridge piers that had sunk into River Silver Galaxy. The three of them retreated to a stone room at the edge of the imperial mausoleum and finally sat down to rest. After折騰the whole morning, Ye Li was already tired. Without being polite, she walked over to a rock chair in the corner of the wall and took out her food and water from her bag and started eating.

Tan Jizhi sat opposite her, casually leaning against the wall on the ground. There was no longer any confidence or arrogance in his expression; instead, his naturally gloomy face now had a look of defeat and cruelty.

"Is Princess Consort Ding feeling happy now" Tan Jizhi asked coldly as he watched Ye Li calmly eating her food. Ye Li paused slightly with the dry food she was holding before smiling faintly and saying, "How could this consort be happy sitting in such a gloomy place" Tan Jizhi did not believe it; he sneered and said, "Seeing me fall into this predicament, Princess Consort Ding enjoyed watching my misfortune. How can you not feel happy then" Ye Li looked at him sincerely and firmly said, "This consort never enjoys seeing others suffer." Upon hearing that, Tan Jizhi's expression twisted again before he soon stared at Ye Li with a smile, saying, "Although this trip was in vain, I met Princess Consort Ding and the future Crown Prince of Ding. This is not a loss by any means. Of course, thank you to my father."

The Doctor Lin kept his face cold and ignored him.

Ye Li said with a smile, "I also need to thank Master for saving this consort if it were not for that, this consort would still be unable to see Tan Jizhi now."

Tan Jizhi looked at Ye Li oddly before no longer trying to provoke her. He spent more time by Mo Jingqi's side than most people thought and had some understanding of Ye Li. If Mo Jingyi hated someone the most in this world, it was probably Ye Li; though Tan Jizhi felt that this hatred came from Mo Jingyi's own paranoia. In Mo Jingyi’s view, the already crumbling Ding Kingdom Manor and the barely alive Mo Xiuyao were completely due to Ye Li’s appearance, causing him anger and resentment like ten years of work destroyed overnight. Perhaps compared to Mo Xiuyao, Mo Jingyi wished for Ye Li to die first. Although Tan Jizhi did not agree with Mo Jingyi's inexplicable hatred, it didn't stop him from regarding Ye Li as important. He knew that a woman like her was not something he could control with just words. Shifting his gaze slightly, Tan Jizhi tactfully changed the topic and said, "Princess Consort, after this long time, aren't you curious about how Crown Prince Ding is doing"

Ye Li twisted her lips into a fake smile and asked him sarcastically, "Is Tan Jizhi willing to tell me"

Tan Jizhi smiled and said, "Being able to talk with Princess Consort is my honor. To speak of... Crown Prince Ding really loves you; on the second day after you fell off the cliff, all seven thousand soldiers below were executed by Crown Prince Ding. He also withdrew all troops resisting Nanzhao and Xiling back. Now, Great Chu is in turmoil." Seeing Ye Li frown, Tan Jizhi continued, "If this was it, that would be fine, but Crown Prince Ding even expelled all the garrisons of Great Chu outside Feihong Pass. Those who rebelled were all killed. Currently... every country knows that Crown Prince Ding has already rebelled and is avenging a beauty for his own glory. Princess Consort must feel moved by this."

Ye Li remained expressionless and said, "Thank you for informing me, Tan Jizhi. As a woman, I naturally feel moved knowing what my husband did."

Tan Jizhi raised an eyebrow and said, "Princess Consort is from the Xu family of Yunzhou, and they have always been loyal. Does Princess Consort not wish to say anything else"

Ye Li smiled apologetically and said, "Once married, I follow my husband's lead; whatever he does, whether it be praised or condemned by all under the heavens, in my eyes, he is right."

"To have such a wife, Crown Prince Ding truly has good fortune!" Tan Jizhi ground his teeth and said. Ye Li smiled and said, "Tan Jizhi overpraises me. Actually, compared to our crown prince, I am more interested in Tan Jizhi's matter."

Tan Jizhi was stunned and looked at the smiling woman cautiously.

Ye Li waved her hand and smiled gently, "Tan Jizhi needn't be nervous. Since you have let this consort know your identity, there is nothing else for you to worry about, right"

Tan Jizhi remained silent; indeed, his greatest secret was just his identity. If that had already been revealed, what more could he hide Looking up, Tan Jizhi had a smile on the corner of his lips, but his naturally gloomy face couldn't achieve the graceful demeanor, and no one cared about it anyway. Tan Jizhi raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "It is truly an honor for this subordinate to receive Princess Consort's interest." Ye Li smiled and said, "Tan Jizhi needn't be courteous. This consort won't guess what your intentions have been all these years near Mo Jingyi; it was just that matter, right"

Tan Jizhi nodded slightly and replied, “Right.” As a descendant of the previous dynasty, hiding in the current emperor's surroundings took no thought.

"Have you, Minister Tan, seen any cases in history where descendants of a previous dynasty succeeded in reclaiming the throne" Ye Li put down her food and asked after washing her hands with some clear water.

Tan Jizhi's expression darkened as he glared coldly at Ye Li. She smiled and said, "Minister Tan, you needn't worry unduly. This Consort is not mocking you. I suggest that Minister Tan ponder over my question."

"Indeed there have been few successful cases. Does the Duchess have any valuable insights"

"I'm afraid I don't possess such wisdom. In truth, reclaiming a kingdom...is far more difficult than founding one, isn't it The previous dynasty has already been extinct for two hundred years; how many ordinary people would risk their lives to support the descendants of an imperial family that perished generations ago Furthermore, what benefits can Minister Tan offer them in exchange for taking such risks on your behalf You wish to reclaim the kingdom but are unaware...from where will you acquire the funds, troops, and talent required to do so Do you really believe that by eliminating Duke Ding and Emperor Mo Jingqi, the entire realm of Dazhu would fall under your control Although Minister Tan did not obtain the treasure he sought this time, this imperial mausoleum is still worth a considerable sum."

"The Duchess has kindly reminded me. I am grateful for your advice," said Tan Jizhi after sizing Ye Li up for some moments and accepting her guidance with clasped hands.

Ye Li remained silent: She had no intention of advising him; rather, she wanted to discourage him. However, he was right—someone who could endure humiliation and remain undetected by Mo Jingqi for so long surely would not be unprepared. Ye Li pondered the information she gleaned from Tan Jizhi while maintaining a composed exterior. She knew when to stop speaking; otherwise, Tan Jizhi might consider her an obstacle instead of a bargaining chip in negotiations with Mo Xiuyao.

Ye Li was disinclined to talk further, but Tan Jizhi seemed quite interested in her now: "Speaking of which, how is it that the Duchess was coerced into marrying Duke Ding in the first place Or...did you and Prince Ding already share mutual affection when our Emperor was still unaware"

"Minister Tan, have you read too many romance novels My choice of husband isn't bad," Ye Li said with a dismissive glance.

"Not bad " Tan Jizhi asked somewhat mockingly; clearly, he did not care for her words. From any perspective, marrying Mo Xiuyao was hardly a favorable decision. Ye Li pursed her lips and decided against explaining her reasons to him. Indeed, from the perspective of women in this era, marrying Mo Xiuyao wasn't ideal; but for Ye Li, it was the best choice possible. She needn't navigate through countless concubines nor spend her lifetime discussing cosmetics with noblewomen in their chambers; she also didn't have to confine herself to a small space all her life. Even if she had prepared long ago for such an existence, why not choose something better Though it was far from the peace and tranquility she hoped for, there were sacrifices to be made for any gains. She could not hope to enjoy freedom as in her previous life while shirking responsibilities and obligations; others' views mattered little. Many things are like drinking water—only one knows if it's hot or cold oneself. Mo Xiuyao had given her much that pleased her, and she was willing to do whatever she could for him.

The treasures in this imperial mausoleum were fake, but the scale of the tomb lived up to its reputation as a royal burial site. Following the map, they made few stops along the way and only reached the exit after more than a day's journey.

Exiting the imperial mausoleum, the sunlight was blinding; Ye Li closed her eyes momentarily before shielding them with an arm until she could open them again. She saw Tan Jizhi smiling at her as he sized her up and said, "The Duchess trusts me greatly." Ye Li smiled lightly: “Minister Tan, if you wished to harm this Consort, you could have done so within the mausoleum already. Fear not; I won't run away. After all...my children come first.” Satisfied, Tan Jizhi nodded and said, "It's good that the Duchess has made up her mind. To be honest, I didn’t want to resort to force against you."

Since meeting Tan Jizhi, Dr. Lin had become unusually reticent. Most of the time, Ye Li conversed with Tan Jizhi while Dr. Lin listened silently as they exchanged試探對方的話語。站在懸崖下看著皇陵入口慢慢合攏，冇有絲毫蹤跡可循，林大夫轉身向前方走去。

Tan Jizhi’s expression darkened as he stared at the back of Dr. Lin: "Father, where do you intend to go"

Dr. Lin turned and said coldly: "You have already entered the imperial tomb. Do you still need to concern yourself with an old man like me" Tan Jizhi looked at Dr. Lin complexly and after a moment of contemplation, he said: "Father, I need the genuine location of the imperial mausoleum."

Dr. Lin showed a look of astonishment and stared at Tan Jizhi: "You think this imperial mausoleum is fake"

Tan Jizhi stood with his hands behind his back, "There's nothing inside. It’s obvious, isn’t it"

Dr. Lin chuckled, "I told you before that there are no treasures in the imperial mausoleum at all. You refused to believe me. Now you've seen for yourself and are still doubting this is a real imperial mausoleum Are you trying to say I’ve hidden the treasures"

Tan Jizhi remained silent, his expression somewhat resembling an admission of Dr. Lin's words. A look of sadness and pain flashed across Dr. Lin’s face as he glared at Tan Jizhi, sneering coldly, "Fine! Fine! Even if I’ve hidden the treasures, what do you intend to do about it Kill me"

"Father!" Tan Jizhi gritted his teeth, a hint of ruthlessness in his gaze as he stared at Dr. Lin's suddenly hunched figure and said coldly, "Don’t forget… You are not my biological father. Those treasures also don't belong to the Tan family." A mocking smile appeared on Dr. Lin’s face, but to Ye Li it looked more like a sob. "But you mustn’t forget that you’re still carrying the surname Tan!" Tan Jizhi's expression flickered, his complexion becoming even uglier. "You…"

"I think we should leave this place first," Ye Li suddenly spoke up. "We are probably still near Ruyang, right"

Tan Jizhi was taken aback and finally swallowed the words he had in his mouth back down as he looked at Dr. Lin and said firmly, "Come with me."

Dr. Lin’s white eyebrows rose as if about to speak but was caught by Ye Li who reached out and grabbed his arm. Apologetically, Ye Li said, "Master, your disciple seems a little unwell and needs you to take a look at him." Dr. Lin froze for a moment, staring deeply into Ye Li’s eyes before finally not opposing anymore.

Pressing the nearly exploding adoptive father-son duo back down in her heart, Ye Li sighed softly. Unintentionally touching the piece of cloth stored in her sleeve, she followed Tan Jizhi's footsteps.

Tan Jizhi walked ahead while looking back at Ye Li and said, "My people are not far from here. Consort Wang needn’t be too anxious; we’re not going to Ruyang this time. So for the moment you might not get to see Prince Ding."

Ye Li smiled faintly and replied, "Since I’ve fallen into Minister Tan’s hands, naturally everything is at your disposal. But Consort Wang is rather curious as to what plans Minister Tan has in store Is he planning on bringing Consort Wang back to the capital"

Tan Jizhi laughed and said, "How could Consort Wang think so What benefit would it bring me if I were to take Consort Wang back to the capital"

Ye Li lowered her eyes and replied, "Then your disciple is even more curious. How did Minister Tan manage to leave the capital for such a long time The Emperor isn’t exactly an easy person to fool." With a hint of pride, Tan Jizhi said with a smile, "Since I’ve earned his trust, how could it be that difficult for me to spare this amount of time As for where Consort Wang is going… you’ll know when we get there."

Ye Li smiled slightly and said, "If so, your disciple looks forward to it." If he managed to deceive Mo Jingqi all these years, then let’s see if he can manage to walk out of Fenghong Pass.iuxi feels that Chu Emperor is incapable and unfit for being an emperor and wants to abdicate, it's none of our lord's business."After saying this, she looked at Mo Jingli opposite her calmly. As expe...