However, Ye Mu’s words reminded her that Mo Die was only a puppet emperor once the plan succeeded. It may seem like she received the same amount of benefits as the Shi Family on the surface, but in fact, it was not true. Since Mo Die was the emperor, why can’t they just kill her (the Empress Dowager) off and allowed the Shi Family to become the regent? Mo Die was not as smart or scheming as Mo Linyuan, so she could be easily controlled!
The most important matter was that the young girl had been locked up by her for five years. Once she became the female emperor in the future, will she let her go after what she had done to her?
She had always hated Mo Linyuan’s existence, but she almost forgot that it would not be easy to get along with Mo Die either. If Mo Die collides with the Shi Family, perhaps she, Zhao Yunqin will be the next person to be locked up in a dungeon.
Thinking of this, Zhao Yunqin could no longer sit still. She glanced around and saw Ye Mu looking at her with a smile.
Ye Mu’s eyes seemed to be able to penetrate her thoughts, which made Zhao Yunqin terrified of her.
“Have you thought about it clearly?” Ye Mu took in Zhao Yunqin’s change in attitude and suddenly realized what she was thinking. “Think about it, how much do you think Mo Die hates you? Are you sure you want to see the Shi Family become successful? If you are sure, then His Majesty will soon send out a decree that will restore Mo Die’s identity.”
“Wait, wait a moment!” Zhao Yunqin rubbed the space between her brows. She had a headache, “Die’er had been “dead” for so many years. I fear it will be inappropriate for the emperor to suddenly restore her identity.”
“Oh?” Ye Mu took a step forward, “Why? What kind of excuse should I give the emperor for your refusal to restore her identity? You have to give me a reason, otherwise, I can’t explain it to His Majesty.”
Zhao Yunqin discovered that Ye Mu was quite difficult to deal with, “That’s not something you can ask about! Get out!”
Even though she acted so fierce towards Ye Mu, Ye Mu didn’t react at all. She merely smiled and asked, “Empress Dowager, His Majesty suspected that his mother’s death had something to do with the Wen Family. Hence, he sent me to secretly get some evidence from you. We can stop talking about Mo Die. However, you should answer my question. Because soon, one of the young masters of the Wen Family might marry into the royal family.”
Zhao Yunqin asked fretfully, “Will you even believe me if I tell you the truth?”
Ye Mu said, “If I don’t believe you, then I wouldn’t have come here to ask you.”
Zhao Yunqin pondered for a moment before she said, “At that time, the three big families have intervened in the matter.” Otherwise, how could she win so easily?
“I understood.” Ye Mu didn’t know whether Zhao Yunqin was lying or Wen Ze was lying. But she now had an idea what to do about Mo Die’s matter.
When she returned, Mo Linyuan had just ended court. A smile appeared on his face when he saw Ye Mu. He walked over to her and pinched her nose intimately.
“How was it? Did you manage to coax the answers out of the Empress Dowager?”
Ye Mu smiled triumphantly, “I did! It was all thanks to my silver tongue. I found out that the Empress Dowager and the Shi Family had made a deal. Although I do not know the exact details of their deal, I’m certain that we cannot give her the princess identity back!”
After she finished speaking, she relayed the entire conversation between her and the Empress Dowager to Mo Linyuan. Suddenly, an idea appeared in Mo Linyuan’s mind.
“After listening to you, I don’t think it mattered what the identity of a princess can do. Perhaps it’s more important to them whether or not I admit that she’s from the royal bloodline.”
“No, it can’t be?” Ye Mu immediately understood the meaning behind Mo Linyuan’s words, “Could it be that Mo Die wants to be the female emperor?”
Mo Linyuan’s face dimmed instantly.
If his guess was correct, then the marriage proposal from the Wen Family was just a disguise. They were deliberately diverting his focus so that he will let his guard down around Mo Die. That way, he will personally restore her status as a princess. After all, what can a mere princess do?
“If this is true, then we cannot believe a single word the Wen Family said,” Ye Mu said angrily. No wonder Mo Die had been acting so obediently and calm these past few years. She had a plan up her sleeve all along! Had she not made this trip to the Empress Dowager’s place, then Mo Linyuan would’ve restored Mo Die’s status based on their deceased mother, and the pair of jade butterfly Mo Die showed him. Once that happens, Mo Die will definitely jump out in the future and stab him in the back.
“What should we do now?” When Ye Mu saw how angry Mo Linyuan appeared, she couldn’t help but become a little worried, “Don’t be impulsive. She is still your biological sister.”
Mo Linyuan wouldn’t just chop their head off because of his anger, right?
Since Mo Die was in on this plan, then Mo Shiwen certainly was too. One was his father and the other was his younger sister. They are still his relatives. Mo Linyuan really wanted to know the reason why they’re calculating against him!
Had he not rescued them from the dungeon, they would have starved to death! Instead of repaying this debt, they’re biting the hands that are feeding them! What for?
“I want to ask him.” Mo Linyuan stood up. There was a murderous aura around him, and his sharp phoenix eyes were full of killing intent!
“I treated them fairly, why are they doing this to me?!”
“Eh, wait a moment!” Ye Mu quickly grabbed him, “They won’t admit to anything if you confront them like this! Leave this matter to me!”
A light bulb lit up in Ye Mu’s mind, “I have a plan!”
Although Ye Mu said that she had a plan, she was partially only saying that to calm Mo Linyuan. After all, they were still in the dark regarding their enemy’s plan. If Mo Linyuan did something out of anger, it would give reason to those eyeing his throne to attack him.
Ye Mu carefully pondered over Mo Die’s mentality.
In her opinion, Mo Die was a woman who would give something she didn’t need to receive something she needed. She may have ambitions, but her ambitions aren’t big enough for her to desire to become the emperor. The reason she probably agreed to it was that she had no choice.
If Mo Die had a choice, she probably will continue to pretend she was invisible next to Mo Linyuan. After all, she already achieved some results by pretending to be invisible. Mo Linyuan had almost agreed to restore her princess status before. At this time, she wouldn’t collude with other people unless she had no choice.
For example, she might’ve been blackmailed by the Shi Family or by the Empress Dowager with something she did. And if this matter were to be found out by Mo Linyuan, he would definitely not forgive her.
The same probably holds true for Mo Shiwen too. If he was not threatened by someone, then it was impossible for him to take the initiative to stir up trouble based on how much he feared the Empress Dowager. Unless he believed that Mo Linyuan would not protect him after he found out the truth behind the Empress’s death. As a result, he had no choice but to collude with the Shi Family.
Somehow, Ye Mu felt that what she had inferred was pretty close to the truth. Even though Ye Mu was a bystander in all of this, based on all the clues, she could only conclude that the cause of death of the late Empress bound the Empress Dowager, the Shi Family, and everyone else together.
The more Ye Mu thought about it, the more she was certain she was correct. She could not think of anything else that would make Mo Shiwen and Mo Die feel that Mo Linyuan would kill them if he found out.
It was just that Mo Linyuan never expressed any doubts at the cause of his mother’s death. Since he never doubted his mother’s death, why did Mo Shiwen behave so strangely?
Ye Mu turned around the corner and headed towards the place where Mo Shiwen lived. She felt that if she wanted to know the full truth, then she would have to start with the weakest link.
At this time, Mo Shiwen and Mo Die were together. However, they didn’t even eat lunch yet because of the current matter that weighed heavily in their hearts.
Since they mentioned the Empress’s final wish and even brought out her butterfly jade, Mo Linyuan would probably restore Mo Die’s princess status, right?
Mo Die reluctantly said, “Royal Brother almost agreed to my request before. After all, restoring my title is only a small request. It must be that damned Ye Mu! She must’ve been afraid that I would snatch her favor after I restored my status!”
Mo Shiwen also felt unhappy. It was only a small request. The two of them had lived their lives quietly in the past four years without causing any trouble. Why didn’t Mo Linyuan agree to their request?
“Let’s wait a while longer. Mo Linyuan will definitely agree. We should remain patient.”
Ye Mu originally wanted to ask the servants to report to Mo Shiwen that she was here, but this was a perfect chance for her to eavesdrop on them. She had excellent hearing thanks to the hundred years of internal energy inside her, so when she heard Mo Shiwen’s words, she suddenly prevented the palace guard from reporting her arrival.
The palace servant was confused by her action. He looked at her then looked back at the palace hall. He was a master cultivator, but he couldn’t hear anything from this distance. Since she was only a little girl, it should be impossible for her to hear anything.
Mo Die said, “I heard from someone that Ye Mu went to visit the Empress Dowager this morning. She wouldn’t find out something she shouldn’t know from the Empress Dowager, right?”
“That’s impossible.” Mo Shiwen said, “That woman chose to cooperate with us, so it’s impossible for her to dismantle the whole plan. Even if Mo Linyuan promised to give her more benefits, she wouldn’t agree.”
Mo Die mumbled, “Sigh, if I wasn’t afraid that the cause of Royal Mother’s death will provoke Royal Brother, then I wouldn’t have participated in this matter! I would be satisfied with just a princess title. The Empress Dowager and the people from the Shi Family are difficult to deal with.
Mo Shiwen also sighed, “If Mo Linyuan found out the truth about what happened that year, then we’re all going to die. What choices do we have right now? Later in the afternoon, you should visit him to curry some favor with him. Since we have no way out of this, we can only proceed forward with the plan!”
When Ye Mu heard this, she couldn’t help but narrowed her eyes. She was stopped by the palace guard that was guarding Mo Shiwen’s palace. It was obvious that the palace guard wasn’t one of the emperor’s people. He thought something was fishy when he saw Ye Mu suddenly fell silent. Without Ye Mu’s permission, he announced her arrival.
“Young Lady Ye Mu has arrived!”
Ye Mu glanced at the palace guard, but she didn’t say anything. The moment her name was announced, the door to the palace hall was flung open. Mo Shiwen was a little flustered by Ye Mu’s sudden arrival. She couldn’t have heard anything since she was so far away from them, right?
Ye Mu smiled generously at him and said, “Ye Mu paid respect to the Emperor’s Father. I came here to visit you on behalf of His Majesty.”
She signaled her servant to take out the box she had prepared beforehand and opened it. There was old ginseng inside the box.
Mo Shiwen concealed his suspicious gaze and allowed Ye Mu to enter. Ye Mu didn’t appear surprised when she saw Mo Die, instead, she greeted her properly.
Everyone knew that the emperor favored Ye Mu. The reason was that Ye Mu saved his life. Even if Ye Mu didn’t know the palace etiquette, no one could blame her or punish her. After all, the emperor always protected her.
“What did you come here for?” Mo Shiwen asked straight away. He had ordered all the servants to leave the room, except for the palace servant who announced Ye Mu’s arrival.
The palace guard seemed to be a master at martial arts. His gaze was a little too sharp.
Ye Mu glanced at him and she suddenly had an idea.
“I originally came here just to visit you. But this morning, I heard an interesting story from the Empress Dowager.”
Mo Shiwen’s heart jumped, and he asked urgently, “What did you tell you?”
Ye Mu smiled and said, “It’s not much. She only told me that she wasn’t the only one who caused the Empress’s death. She told me that many people took part in the Empress’s death. His Majesty doesn’t believe the Empress Dowager’s words, so he asked me to come here to ask you.”
Beads of cold sweat formed on Mo Shiwen’s forehead, “That woman is vicious and ruthless. Her words cannot be trusted! W-What else did she tell you?!”
Ye Mu said, “She said she was able to succeed at the beginning of the power struggle because the three major families all intervened on the matter.”
Mo Shiwen’s face turned pale. Didn’t that mean that Mo Linyuan found out that the Wen Family was not a trustworthy ally?
Ye Mu examined his reaction and concluded that the Empress Dowager didn’t lie.
“She also said…” Ye Mu continued slowly, “She also said that you are the main culprit behind the Empress’s death!”
“Y-You, you’re talking nonsense!” Mo Shiwen appeared to be a cat whose tail had been just stepped on. However, the panic and fear on his face did not seem to be fake.
When Mo Die saw Mo Shiwen’s reaction, she quickly held him down to prevent him from revealing anything. Then, she glared at Ye Mu with ill intentions.
“You’re only a person from an unknown origin, what right do you have to participate in our royal affairs? My royal mother has been dead for many years. She died because she was forced to death by the Empress Dowager!”
“Is that so?” Ye Mu sat on a decoratively carved chair and smiled, “But what you just said is completely opposite of what the Empress Dowager told me. Who do you think His Majesty will believe in? If the Wen Family isn’t blackmailing you, would you have colluded with them? There must be a secret behind all of this!”
Ye Mu’s eyes seemed to be able to see through everything. Mo Die’s heart trembled slightly when her gaze met with Ye Mu’s eyes. She finally couldn’t bear it any longer and asked in a low voice, “How much do you know?”
Ye Mu said, “Do you think I would be standing here if I didn’t know everything? You are the daughter of the late Empress while your father is the husband of the late Empress. Yet your actions are so cruel and ruthless. The Emperor has invited the Empress Dowager over to him. When the time comes, he wants the two of you to confront her!”
Mo Shiwen’s heart crumbled at her words, “Zhao Yunqin actually dared to betray us?!”
He had long said that Zhao Yunqin was unreliable. He told the Shi Family not to cooperate with Zhao Yunqin, but they ignored his advice. Now, she had stabbed them in the back!
Ye Mu smiled slightly. She didn’t actually say anything with substance or specific. They assumed she had because they are disillusioned with guilt.
However, their attitude allowed Ye Mu to confirm that they were being blackmailed by the Shi Family.
Ye Mu stoop up and said calmly, “His Majesty said that the two of you still have a chance to tell him exactly what happened that year. If you truthfully tell him everything, he may consider sparing your life.”
Mo Shiwen and Mo Die looked at each other. They couldn’t figure out how much the Empress Dowager had told her. Mo Die secretly glanced at the martial arts master standing behind her. The martial arts master had a gloomy expression on his face as he stared back at her. Mo Die suddenly felt a burst of confidence seeing him standing behind her.
She put on a scared expression on her face.
Then she said to Ye Mu, “We will tell you everything. But first, you should come into the inner room to have some tea. We will slowly tell you everything.”
Ye Mu did not doubt them and followed them in. However, when she sat down, Mo Die and Mo Shiwen sat on her left and right side. The mysterious palace guard had disappeared.
“The death of the Empress cannot be blamed on me!” As soon as Mo Shiwen sat down, he put on a bitter face and said, “Xiaoyun really wasn’t killed by me. Her death was caused by the Empress Dowager!”