Chapter 427 See the Emperor

In the first ten-day period of the eighth lunar month, the eunuch Zhang You who went to Jiangzhou to declare the imperial edict and the others brought Yan Xu who had been cut into “pieces” to the capital city.

The temperature went up on the way, while the “pieces” stunk and made people want to throw up after smelling it.

Zhang You suffered unspeakably but had to take the “residue” to the capital city. Otherwise, he couldn’t report back to Mo Junyu.

Even though Mo Junyang offered a good explanation, Mo Junyu was the emperor, the ruler of the country. If he wanted to make things difficult for them, he would need to say only one word.

Mo Junyu just heard that Yan Xu had been killed as they didn’t watch him closely, so he was angry and kicked Zhang You away.

Zhang You bumped into a pillar and then fell on the floor heavily. He was in pain and bared his teeth, yet he didn’t dare to make a sound.

Mo Junzhan couldn’t bear to see it. He asked with displeasure, “Brother, what are you doing? He didn’t kill Yan Xu. Why do you vent your anger on him?”

Mo Junyu sneered and squinted at Mo Junzhan, saying meaningfully, “You tell me who killed him.”

“I…” Mo Junzhan felt uncomfortable as he saw Mo Junyu’s sarcastic smile. He almost confessed on impulse.

Qu Yuebai quickly grabbed Mo Junzhan’s sleeve and stopped the prince’s voice to commit suicide.

Mo Junzhan held back unwillingly and avoided Mo Junyu’s eyes, saying in a muffled voice, “How would I know? Didn’t His Excellency explain it clearly in the letter? Yan Xu did all kinds of evil and many people don’t like him. It’s normal that they killed him on the way.”

Of course Mo Junyu knew that it was the truth Mo Junyang told him, but because he knew this, he was more certain that there was something fishy.

All people present knew the truth.

If Mo Junyang said that, Mo Junyu might be still angry but wouldn’t bother about this matter. However, Mo Junyang was not here, yet Mo Junzhan had come.

This prince was a potential threat of him.

Mo Junyu narrowed his eyes dangerously, which fell on Qu Yuebai. He suddenly asked, “Why didn’t I know that you work for Junzhan, Mr. Qu?”

Qu Yuebai was dragged by Shen Luo to save the situation for the time being because Shen Luo was a doctor and wasn’t good at coping with the schemes against each other. Moreover, Qu Yuebai was Mo Junyu’s acquaintance, so it was convenient for them to talk.

However, as soon as Mo Junyu started to speak, it made Qu Yuebai have cold sweat.

He should have thought of Mo Junyu’s suspicion. The emperor even suspected Mo Junyang’s favor to save him.

Now Qu Yuebai obviously helped Mo Junzhan control the situation, and the emperor might suspect that they ganged up for selfish interests and then put the blame on Mo Junyang.

Qu Yuebai swallowed and explained humbly, “His Excellency has something to do, so he can’t report the result of the trip to Jiangzhou to you in person, and he told me to enter the imperial palace with His Highness to see you. Then I can apologize to you for His Excellency and explain the cause and effect to you clearly.

“Please forgive His Excellency’s negligence of duty for the sake of him, Your Majesty.”

He apologized tactfully, but he lacked confidence.

He was afraid that this new emperor would do something influential to show his talent and his determination to reform and forget the relationship between him and others after taking the throne. Then Mo Junyang would probably be a scapegoat.

After Qu Yuebai gave an explanation, Mo Junyu’s eyes were still sharp, which made the former panic-stricken. When Qu Yuebai almost thought that he would be done this time, Mo Junyu fell into silence all of a sudden.

“Fine. All of you get out.”

He let them go so easily?

All people were surprised, yet even Mo Junzhan knew that the wisest choice was to go out obediently. They would just let it pass.

However, as soon as all of them retreated to the door, Mo Junyu ordered, “Mr. Qu, stay.”

Qu Yuebai paused for a moment and found that Mo Junzhan was looking at him worriedly and wanted to say something seemingly. He shook his head at Mo Junzhan secretly, and the latter didn’t speak but walked out tamely in the end.

Only Mo Junyu and Qu Yuebai were left in the emperor’s study.

Mo Junyu started to look Qu Yuebai up and down with his sharp eyes again and kept silent for a long time.

Qu Yuebai was unable to be as calm as Mo Junyang. Feeling Mo Junyu’s stare, he almost couldn’t stand it as his back seemed to be pricked.

Fortunately, Mo Junyu said, “I have heard that you didn’t go to Jiangzhou this time, Mr. Qu?”

Qu Yuebai answered respectfully, “Right. I stay in the capital city all the time.”

“The capital is a nice city.” Mo Junyu sighed with emotion and suddenly changed the subject, asking, “Mr. Qu, why are you clear about what happened in Jiangzhou and what Junyang thought about? Did he come back?”

Qu Yuebai’s sweat fell from his back like rain, while he still tightened and tried hard to keep calm, responding, “I am worried about His Excellency and have written some letters to ask him about what happened in Jiangzhou in case of need, and he told me everything frankly, so I know what happened there.

“He has something important to do, so he can’t come back for now. Please forgive him, Your Majesty.”

“Something important?” Mo Junyu snorted. “Something important he mentioned is to disobey the imperial edict?”

Qu Yuebai understood the hidden meaning of this question, and he turned pale at once. He defended Mo Junyang in a hurry. “Your Majesty, you misunderstood it. His Excellency…is…”

It was a fact that Mo Junyang disobeyed the imperial edict. Not to mention that Yan Xu had been killed, Mo Junyang hadn’t returned now, which meant that he gave the evidence against him to others. Even though Qu Yuebai was silver-tongued, he couldn’t explain it clearly.

As Mo Junyu heard Qu Yuebai stutter, the smile on his face became colder. He snorted indifferently. “I think that he is bewitched by Lady Qingxue and has forgotten his identity, right?”

Mo Junyu didn’t deny that Mo Junyang did a lot to help him take the throne, and if Mo Junyang were not with him, he might have died, not to mention ascending the throne.

However, Mo Junyang cared about Shi Qingxue much more than him, which was difficult for him to eat and sleep well, like a fishbone stuck in his throne forever.

In the past, before he took the throne, even if he was dissatisfied, he had to endure it, but now he was the emperor. Why didn’t Mo Junyang change his attitude toward him?

Emperor Benevolence felt depressed.

If Qu Yuebai knew what Mo Junyu was thinking about, he might say, “Don’t feel depressed. Mo Junyang is more than bewitched by Shi Qingxue, and he has even given his heart to her. Nobody can compare with her.”

Nevertheless, if he said that, he would only intensify their conflict. Qu Yuebai covered his mouth and said nothing. He just comforted the emperor respectfully. “Your Majesty, the Shi family is always loyal to you, and they don’t conflict with your interests. This time…”

Because Mo Junyu didn’t clearly mention that he had known that Mo Junyang went to the northern border, Qu Yuebai wouldn’t tell him. He merely said something vague to let it pass. “His Excellency just considers for the country and society. Please forgive him, Your Majesty.”

It was the fact. Not to mention what Mo Junyang’s private motive was when he disobeyed the imperial edict, only the result would benefit everybody after they wiped out Mo Junhao and maintained the country’s stableness.

Mo Junyu had no reason to be unhappy to see the result.

The emperor certainly knew this, but because he was clear about it, he was more depressed.

It seemed that he would be unreasonable to lose temper, yet if he ignored it, he would be aggrieved. He was so pissed off.

“Fine. Don’t say the word forgive all the time.” Mo Junyu finally gave up this subject and smiled at Qu Yuebai.

“Anyway, we have worked together for many years. Don’t stand on ceremony, Mr. Qu. Let’s treat each other like what we did in the past.”

He mentioned personal feelings.

Qu Yuebai knew it, yet he didn’t show his emotion on his face. He echoed, “I will. Please don’t worry, Your Majesty.”

They chatted for a while. Mo Junyu knew that he couldn’t get any other information from Qu Yuebai, so he showed mercy and told him to go.

Qu Yuebai bowed and said goodbye, walking out of the emperor’s study. Then he saw that his brother Qu Yuexuan was waiting there.

Seeing his brother, Qu Yuexuan walked to him in a hurry, but Qu Yuebai shook his head in advance. They walked out of the imperial palace in silence and then got into the carriage.

Qu Yuexuan couldn’t wait to ask, “What’s up? Did His Majesty make things difficult for you?”

Qu Yuebai smiled bitterly. “As Junyang estimated, I am just a nobody. What can he do to make things difficult for me?”

“But judging from your expression, why does it seem that you had a fight just now?” Qu Yuebai looked at his brother in disbelief.

“Even though I am fine now, the process was torture.” Qu Yuebai sighed sadly.

They were bosses. Even though they didn’t blame him, any action was enough to make him jumpy.

Qu Yuebai expressed that there was a problem with his heart, and he hoped that he would have less similar psychological suffering in the future.

Qu Yuexuan looked his brother up and down again. After confirming that he was fine, Qu Yuexuan changed his attitude at once and snorted with disdain. “You are good for nothing. If Junyang came, he wouldn’t be like you.”

Qu Yuebai glared at him crossly. “If you are capable, tell him to come back or you go there to see His Majesty.”

Every time there was something wrong, Qu Yuebai had to sort out the mess, so he was depressed.

Qu Yuexuan got spiritless in an instant.

Among Mo Junyang’s subordinates, Qu Yuebai was the smartest and good at dealing with all kinds of accidents.

Qu Yuexuan just retorted his brother as a habit, but in fact, he thought highly of Qu Yuebai’s capabilities.

“Are you fine now?” Qu Yuexuan asked awkwardly.

Qu Yuebai’s face was still pale and feeble. Hearing this question, he looked frustrated again. “I am uncertain. He has become the emperor now, and he is more restrained than before. It appears that he is easy to get along with, but who knows what he is thinking about and going to do?”

At the mention of Mo Junyu, Qu Yuebai looked more serious. He stared at his lazy brother and warned, stressing each word, “I don’t want to rebuke you for what happened in the past, yet now you have to remember that no matter what, the crown prince has become the emperor, so we can’t do anything at will like before.

“Especially you, you can’t be as lazy as before. Be alert. Don’t let anybody find the evidence against you. Got it?”

It was rare that Qu Yuexuan didn’t say anything to retort Qu Yuebai. He still looked unwilling, but he promised meekly, “I see.”

He pondered for a moment and still felt reluctant. Then he added, “Under the condition that he doesn’t offend me. If he dares to kick down the ladder, I am not the kind of people who will swallow insult silently.”

“You!”

Qu Yuebai was angry about Qu Yuexuan’s stubbornness, but after thinking, he didn’t know how to reproach him, so he sighed slightly and stated helplessly, “That’s it.”