Chapter 428 The Root of the Trouble

Qu Yuebai and the others were prepared as Mo Junyu might kick down the ladder after he took the throne, while Mo Junyu was looking at the long bow in the study.

It was a bow that the first emperor of the Mo Dynasty had used on the battlefield when he overturned the last dynasty, and it was displayed in the emperor’s study all the time to warn the rulers that it was difficult to establish the Mo Dynasty, so they needed to do anything and speak with caution at any time

However, Mo Junyu stroked the long bow, with a complicated expression flashing in his eyes.

Mo You was led into the study by a eunuch, and he immediately saw Mo Junyu’s expression. He paused for a moment and then walked forward slowly, bowing to him in greeting. “Your Majesty, nice to see you.”

Mo Junyu seemed to finally come back to earth from his trance. He turned around slowly and looked at Mo You. Concealing his expression, he said indifferently, “Mo You, you have come. What brought you here?”

Mo You was a relative of Mo Junyu’s mother, and he was favored by the late empress, so he followed Mo Junyu all the time and was trusted by him.

Mo Junyu gave preferential treatment to this distant cousin. Although Mo You was not experienced, Mo Junyu let him work in the Ministry of Personnel with great power.

However, Mo You had a headache when he faced the mess left by Mo Xiangbin and the workers in the Ministry of Personnel didn’t listen to him as he started to work, and he had to ask Mo Junyu for help frequently.

Mo Junyu thought that there was something wrong in the Ministry of Personnel again.

However, Mo You shook his head slightly and then hesitated for a moment before saying in a soft voice, “I have heard that His Excellency didn’t return to the capital.”

Mo Junyu’s eyes became sharp. He looked at Mo You suddenly and his momentum rose. Mo You explained at once, “I just sent somebody to ask in King Rui’s mansion, and their servant said that His Excellency didn’t return home, so I asked you. I don’t intend to nose for anything.”

“Oh!”

Mo Junyu restrained his momentum a little but didn’t fully believe Mo You’s words.

Mo You might not have arranged anybody next to him, yet the others might.

Because Mo Junyu trusted Mo You, he didn’t bother about it. Instead, he answered, “Right, he didn’t return to the capital but went to the northern border with Lady Qingxue to save her father. Is it touching?”

The sarcasm in the last question was obvious.

Mo You knew that Mo Junyu wasn’t satisfied with Mo Junyang’s love for Shi Qingxue since long ago, and that guy even disobeyed the emperor’s edict because of her, so he frowned involuntarily and asked, “Your Majesty, what do you plan to do to punish him?”

Mo Junyu was stunned. “Punish?”

“It’s obvious that His Excellency didn’t take your order seriously, and he disobeyed the imperial edict openly. If you don’t punish him severely, perhaps there will be endless trouble.” Mo You said that it was serious.

The emperor furrowed his brows more deeply and stated impatiently, “It’s not as serious as what you said. Moreover, Junyang works for me. What do you want me to do to deal with him for such a trifle?”

Mo You didn’t give in. “It’s still a trifle now, but if you don’t punish him, it may become something significant in the future. You must know that people should destroy evils before they become menacing, Your Majesty.”

Of course Mo Junyu knew it.

However, it was a matter that he knew it, while it was another matter that he did it.

Mo Junyu really took Mo Junyang as his brother. Although he was angry as Mo Junyang attached more importance to Shi Qingxue than to him, it was difficult for him to take actions against Mo Junyang.

“Fine, I know what you mean.” Mo Junyu turned away and avoided seeing Mo You’s eyes.

He explained to Mo You with what Qu Yuebai had said and expressed that Mo Junyang didn’t report to him in advance this time, but it would benefit him indeed, so he didn’t need to bother about so much.

After listening to Mo Junyu calmly, Mo You asked only one question after a long time. “Your Majesty, have you forgotten that Rui City is next to the northern border?”

Mo Junyu looked cold and suddenly turned to Mo You, narrowing his eyes while asking dangerously, “What do you mean?”

Mo You shrugged. “I just told you the truth, and I didn’t mean anything else.”

Aha, it was surprising that he didn’t mean anything else.

Mo You paused for a moment and then changed the subject. “Rui City is next to the northern border, and it’s King Rui’s fiefdom. The late emperor made King Rui stay in the capital, and he had a reason.”

Logically, the brothers of the emperor should go to their fiefdoms as early as possible after they were titled as kings, and they couldn’t enter the capital before being summoned.

It appeared to maintain the stableness of the imperial power and the capital, while in fact, there was a lot of hidden trouble.

If the emperor’s brothers raised an army and bought horses in their fiefdoms to defy orders from the central government, the consequences couldn’t be imagined.

There were many things like this from ancient times, so Mo Xiangbin kept King Rui’s wife and his heir in the imperial palace as hostages and then would rather provide for King Rui in the capital than let him return to his fiefdom.

He was worried that King Rui would go against the imperial power with his force.

Now Mo Junyang went to help Shi Qingxue save her father in name, but Rui City was close. Who knew what he did in secret?

“What’s more, the situation at the northern border is so difficult. If His Excellency doesn’t have a backup plan, won’t they court death after they go to the northern border as they are inferior in number?” Mo You drew blood with one prick and pointed out this serious problem.

Mo Junyu was unable to retort. In fact, that was what he was worried about.

Even so, he was still unwilling to believe that Mo Junyang would betray him.

“No. His interests are always the same as mine, and he won’t do something like that,” Mo Junyu expressed with certainty, as if giving himself power.

In the end, no hesitation was shown on his face. “Right, he has no reason to betray me. Don’t need to talk about this matter again.”

Seeing that Mo Junyu made up his mind, Mo You had to give up the plan to persuade him. He just stated, “Even if His Excellency went to the northern border to do something for you, we don’t know the situation there. It’s not wise to let the northern border out of your control.”

Mo Junyu asked, “What do you think we should do?”

“Send more people to the northern border.”

Mo Junyu understood that Mo You didn’t trust Mo Junyang from beginning to end, but his suggestion was reasonable.

There is strength in numbers. Even if he believed that Mo Junyang wouldn’t betray him, it wouldn’t prevent him from sending more people to the northern border to help them.

“Who do you think is more suitable to be sent?”

At the mention of this, Mo You was at a loss.

The Shi Army was trapped at the northern border, so they couldn’t do anything, while the Bureau of War was in a mess now.

As the former Minister of War rebelled, the former Assistant Minister of War Leng Yuan took over the position.

Leng Yuan was a talent. His leadership, fighting capability and loyalty were outstanding, but the only problem was that this man was promoted by Mo Junyang.

Mo You didn’t trust Mo Junyang, so he didn’t want to send people to help him.

“How about letting me go there and send the imperial edict to the generals and soldiers at the northern border, telling them to help the Shi Army attack the enemies?”

Mo Junyu looked at Mo You several times involuntarily. He pondered for merely a short while and then easily understood the hidden meaning of Mo You’s subject.

They fell into silence again, but Mo Junyu agreed to Mo You’s request in the end. “Okay. I will let Zhou Ji assist you. You should be careful on the way. The safety is the most important.”

Somehow, Mo Junyu wasn’t worried about anything about Mo Junhao and the rebel army.

It seemed that his country would be stable as long as Mo Junyang was around him, and he didn’t need to worry.

After arranging the jobs at the imperial court, Mo You went to the northern border with Zhou Ji next day.

However, as soon as the team of them went out of the capital’s environs, Mo You told the coachman to slow down. They could reach somewhere one hundred and fifty kilometers away after one day, but according to his arrangement, perhaps they would only reach the nearest village or town at night.

Zhou Ji didn’t understand Mo You’s plan. He asked in confusion, “Lord Mo, shouldn’t we go to the northern border as soon as possible? At this speed, perhaps we can’t reach there in one month. Look…”

Mo You leaned against the window of the carriage, with a book in one hand and his head rested on the other hand, asking casually, “Why are you anxious?”

Zhou Ji thought that the war at the northern border was critical, and the situation might change rapidly. If they didn’t rush there earlier, it would be too late.

However, he was always clumsy in speech and didn’t know how to reason things out. He just looked hesitant and stuttered, unable to speak.

After a while, Mo You finally put down the book. He was amused to see Zhou Ji’s hesitant expression. “Fine, I have my own plans. Listen to me. Exactly.”

Zhou Ji stated, “His Majesty told me to ensure your safety, so I should listen to you, but I am worried that…”

Looking Zhou Ji up and down seriously who was dull, Mo You had a good opinion of this guard who worked for Mo Junyu since childhood. He cleared his throat and explained to him, “I did try to delay, but don’t worry. It will bring your master more benefit than harm.”

Zhou Ji goggled and frowned, while his expression seemed to ask, “Why?”

Mo You answered, “What do you think we will do if we reach there so early?”

“Of course we will help His Excellency wipe out the rebel army and save the Shi Army,” Zhou Ji took it for granted and answered. At the mention of Mo Junyang, respect was shown on his face involuntarily.

The servants were like their master. Mo You didn’t remind Zhou Ji about Mo Junyang’s potential threat. He just said impassively, “His Excellency is capable. Even if we don’t go there, they can surely wipe out the rebel army. Why do we disturb him when he can cut a figure?”

Mo You wished that Mo Junyang fought against Mo Junhao till death, and it was the best if their force was used up. Then he would lead his people to the northern border and defeat Mo Junyang’s force in Rui City, and everything would be perfect.

Zhou Ji didn’t know Mo You’s intention. After hearing that, he responded instantly, “No, His Excellency won’t mind.”

Mo You was speechless and asked coldly, “It appears that you really trust His Excellency.”

Zhou Ji tilted his head and looked at Mo You, with doubt in his eyes, indicating, “Otherwise?”

“Fine. Anyway, His Majesty told you to listen to me. Just do as I said.”

Mo You wasn’t in the mood to explain to this stubborn guy. He just temporized randomly and ended this topic of conversation.

Although Zhou Ji was still in doubt, he was clear about his identity, so he didn’t say more, only with a complicated expression in his lowered eyes.