Tan Jizhi smiled faintly, "What I want … I'm afraid you can't give it to me right now. Why don't we talk about it when you can?"
The noble consort lowered her eyes, hiding the sharpness and murderous intent in her eyes. She said faintly, "Alright, as long as I can do it, I can promise you anything. However, what can you do for I right now? " Tan Jizhi smiled, "This one has been by Mo Jingqi's side for more than a decade. No one in this world knows better than me what he will do. This … isn't this enough? Doesn't Noble Consort Liu want to know who Mo Jingqi's true confidants are? Also … I can help you deal with Prince Li. " Noble Consort Liu's eyes moved. After a while, she nodded and said, "It's a deal. I hope you won't disappoint I."
Tan Jizhi smiled, "Noble consort, just wait and see."
The nineteen years of Emperor Jing's reign could be considered the worst year since the founding of Da Chu State. Before the new year was over, news of Lenghuai's defeat and his request for help came from the border. It had to be known that Zijing Pass was less than four hundred li away from the capital. If they rode fast, they could get there in one day. If they continued to lose at this distance, they would be right in front of their eyes. In addition, just after receiving Lenghuai's request for help, Mo Jingqi fell ill.
Although he was barely able to attend court, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the emperor was seriously ill just by looking at his sallow complexion and dispirited spirit. With the two matters overlapping, it made people feel as if there was no light at all. It was as if Da Chu State's fate was coming to an end. Mo Jingqi barely managed to gather the troops and rations to support Leng Huai before he fell ill on the bed and was bedridden.
In the bedroom, the empress dowager, who had been abstaining from worldly affairs for a long time, and the empress, who had been recuperating behind closed doors, appeared. At the same time, Prince Li, Noble Consort Liu, Prime Minister Liu, and several Princes of the imperial family were waiting in the room.
After the imperial physician finished taking the pulse, the Empress Dowager anxiously asked, "Imperial physician, what's wrong with the Emperor's body?"
The imperial physician who was taking the pulse frowned and respectfully said, "The Emperor seems to have taken some medicine that is harmful to his body … Coupled with the daily fatigue, his body suddenly collapsed."
The Empress Dowager suddenly stood up and said, "What do you mean by harmful drugs? Someone poisoned the Emperor? "The imperial physician shook his head and said," Forgive me, Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager misunderstood. What this humble subject means is … His Majesty seems to have taken something forbidden. That's why … that's why he hurt his body. "The expressions of everyone in the sleeping chamber changed instantly, and they all became a little strange. The forbidden medicines mentioned by the imperial physicians were mostly things like the Five Minerals Powder or some drugs that were used to kill wolves and tigers. In history, there were some dynasties where taking Five Minerals Powder became the norm, but from the previous dynasty to the Da Chu state, it was listed as a forbidden drug. If word of this got out, the Emperor and the Imperial Family would lose all face.
"Emperor! You are really stupid! "The Empress Dowager glared at her son on the bed and said hatefully. Although she didn't love this son as much as she did her younger son, the Empress Dowager didn't want him to die. Seeing him lying sickly on the bed, the Empress Dowager only felt resentful that he didn't live up to her expectations.
Mo Jingqi opened his mouth and endured the pain in his heart that was like being bitten by ants. He frowned and said, "Zhen didn't …" He knew that no one would believe him because his current symptoms did seem like someone who was addicted to Five Minerals Powder. However, he knew the effects of the Cold-Stones Powder, so he was sure that he had never taken that forbidden medicine before.
His gaze fell on Mo Jingli standing on the side. Mo Jingqi froze and suddenly thought of something. He fiercely glared at Mo Jingli. How could Mo Jingli not see Mo Jingqi's gaze? He walked forward and his usually stern face revealed a faint smile, "Imperial brother, do you have any orders?"
"You … It's you …" That faint smile was provocative and complacent in Mo Jingqi's eyes. He pointed at Mo Jingli and gasped.
Mo Jingli didn't show any fear of his plot being exposed. He still said respectfully, "Imperial brother, what are you talking about? I don't understand. "
Prime Minister Liu had long been ready to make trouble. How could he let go of this opportunity? He stepped forward and said, "Prince Li, His Majesty is obviously referring to the forbidden drug you gave to His Majesty!"
Mo Jingqi glanced at Prime Minister Liu and nodded. Obviously, he agreed with Prime Minister Liu. Prime Minister Liu became more confident. He pointed at Mo Jingli and said harshly, "Prince Li, how dare you!"
"How dare you!" The Empress Dowager said harshly. She stared at Prime Minister Liu coldly and said, "Prince Li and His Majesty are blood brothers. How could he hurt His Majesty? Now we are facing a great enemy. As the Prime Minister, you don't help His Majesty wholeheartedly. Instead, you sow discord between His Majesty's brothers. How should you be punished? "
Prime Minister Liu frowned and said, "Empress Dowager, this is His Majesty's idea. Even if there is no evidence, it is a serious crime to murder His Majesty. Shouldn't Prince Li be arrested first and then investigated? "
The Empress Dowager stared at Mo Jingqi with tears in her eyes and said, "Emperor, do you really think so? Do you think Li Er wants to hurt you? Without any evidence, you suspect your own younger brother. Are you going to lock me up as well? "Mo Jingli stepped forward and said," Imperial Brother, please be clear. This younger brother will definitely not have the intention to kill you. If you don't believe me, just give the order to kill me. "
Mo Jingqi stared at Mo Jingli with hatred. It seemed that he wanted to cut Mo Jingli into pieces. However, he couldn't say a word at this moment. He felt that his limbs and bones were being bitten by countless ants. If he didn't care so much about his face, he would have been rolling on the bed and screaming in pain. His lips trembling, Mo Jingqi spat out a few words. "Get out! Get out! "Everyone was stunned. Prime Minister Liu looked at Mo Jingqi anxiously. At this moment, they should take advantage of the victory and arrest Prince Li.
However, since His Majesty had spoken, the others naturally couldn't stay. The Empress Dowager stood up and said, "Emperor, take care of yourself. I will go back first." The Empress Dowager left first, and the others had to follow her. Mo Jingli was the last to leave. He looked back at Mo Jingli, who was lying on the bed, with a weird smile on his face.
Back in Zhangde Palace, Mo Jingli said respectfully to the Empress Dowager, "Mother, thank you very much …"
"Pa!" Before he could finish speaking, a slap landed swiftly and harshly on Mo Jingli's face. Mo Jingli stopped talking and raised his head to look at the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager's eyes were cold and full of sadness and disappointment, "Li Er! How dare you use such a vicious drug on Qi 'er? " He is your brother. Do you still have any humanity? "
Mo Jingli wanted to explain. "Mother, I …" The Empress Dowager waved her hand and said coldly, "You don't need to explain! I am not muddle-headed! " Mo Jingli put down his hand that was covering half of his face. The Empress Dowager's slap was not for show. A few red and swollen finger marks appeared on Mo Jingli's face immediately. Mo Jingli stopped quibbling and said coldly, "Mother, you are right. So what if I did it? Is Imperial Mother the same as that old man surnamed Liu? Do you also want to lock me up? "
Although she knew it was Mo Jingli who did it, the Empress Dowager was still emotional when she heard it from him. She couldn't help crying. Her face, which had been well maintained, suddenly aged more than ten years. She sat on the luxurious phoenix chair, tears streaming down her face. "What a sin! Why did I give birth to you two bastards?! I am sorry to the late emperor, I am sorry to the ancestors of the Mo family. "
Mo Jingli looked coldly at the Empress Dowager's crying appearance. He didn't feel any guilt in his heart. The one who stirred up the ambition in his heart was no one else but the crying Mother in front of him. Because she was dissatisfied with her imperial brother controlling her day by day, she wanted to depose him and push him to the throne. The struggle for the throne had always been a bloody one, and now she was blaming him for being cruel and merciless? It was a pity that there was no turning back. He and Mo Jingqi were destined to fight to the death the moment his ambition was born.
"Li Er … Qi Er is your brother. Give the antidote to him. Mother will protect you. "The Empress Dowager was finally tired from crying and said in a hoarse voice.
Mo Jingli's lips curled into a mocking smile, "Mother, after being the Empress Dowager for more than ten years, you are even more naive than before."
The Empress Dowager was stunned. She coldly looked at the familiar yet strange son in front of her, as if she didn't know him.
Mo Jingli lightly said, "Not to mention that I don't have the antidote, even if I did … I wouldn't give it. Mother, do you really think that if Mo Jingqi was cured, he would let me go? "
The Empress Dowager was so angry by his heartless words that she trembled. She pointed at Mo Jingli and angrily said, "You … you bastard! You … "A lifetime of fighting for power. Now that she was over sixty years old, she was really tired. She only hoped that her two sons would be safe and sound. But why did she have to watch her two sons kill each other in her sixty years of age? Was this really … retribution?
Mo Jingli indifferently smiled and said, "Since it's like this, why didn't mother follow that old man surnamed Liu's wishes and just lock son up? In mother's eyes, isn't there something more important than your son? "
The Empress Dowager silently pointed at Mo Jingli and couldn't say anything for a while. That's right … In her heart, there was still something more important than her son, which was power. If Qi 'er couldn't make it, then Li' er couldn't have anything happen to him. Otherwise, if something happened to Qi 'er, one of the two princes born by Noble Consort Liu would ascend the throne. The Empress Dowager had always been on bad terms with Noble Consort Liu's family. If Noble Consort Liu's son became the emperor, what good would it bring her? Even though the Empress Dowager was noble, her grandmother was far less intimate than her mother. Moreover, Noble Consort Liu's son was not close to her. But even so, it didn't mean that she was willing to let her younger son kill her elder son.
"You …" The Empress Dowager looked at her gloomy son in front of her and found that she didn't know what to say.
Mo Jingli raised his eyebrows and said, "Mother, don't worry. I won't kill him. He is still my brother, isn't he?" Of course, he wouldn't kill Mo Jingqi. He wanted him to lie on the bed unable to move and watch as he held power in his hands and even ruled over the world.
More importantly … he couldn't let Mo Jingqi die too suddenly. Even though Mo Xiuyao had severed ties with the Da Chu State, Mo Jingli wasn't sure if he would use Mo Jingqi's death as an excuse to attack the Da Chu State. From beginning to end, Mo Jingli had never believed that Mo Xiuyao didn't have ambition. He just lacked an excuse to realize his ambition!
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