Chapter Twenty-Nine: An Imperial Edict Is Not Omnipotent

The Emperor looked at Mo Zixiao and said, "But I promised Chu Jingzhi that if he were willing to marry his daughter to Qi Huan, I would grant his only son, Chu Yong, permission to return to the capital. Wouldn't that just be doing Chu Jingzhi a favor? Not only would he not have to part with a daughter, but he would also get his son back in exchange. I don't think it's a good deal."

Upon hearing this, Mo Zixiao felt a strong urge to kick this foolish monarch.

"Your Majesty, saving lives is of the utmost importance."

The Emperor curled his lip. "That won't do. I cannot let that old scoundrel get the better of me. Just think back to how he opposed the late Emperor's decision to name me Crown Prince."

*Marquis Chu was right to do so,* Mo Zixiao thought to himself, *if it were me, I would have opposed naming a useless person like you as well.*

"Your Majesty, the southwestern border is currently being invaded by enemy forces, now only a thousand miles from the capital. I implore you to issue an imperial decree to rescue Chu Xi, so that I may set out to lead the army with peace of mind."

As expected, this foolish young monarch had forced Mo Zixiao to play his final card—coercion.

The Emperor looked alarmed. "Only a thousand miles away? Isn't that very close to the capital?"

Mo Zixiao replied coldly, "Indeed."

The Emperor lowered his head, and without a single word of nonsense, immediately picked up his brush and wrote the imperial decree.

Only after carefully reading the contents of the decree did Mo Zixiao set his mind at ease and walk out of the grand hall. He rode his horse at full gallop, not daring to delay for a second, until he reached the gates of the Prime Minister's residence.

He happened to encounter Marquis Chu just as he was about to board his carriage. Seeing Mo Zixiao galloping toward him, the Marquis's heart sank. *Is it not enough that this brat has stationed so many guards at my gates? Now he comes here himself—could he be here to settle scores?*

At this thought, the Marquis felt a tremor of trepidation, unsure of what this reckless young man might do to him.

Mo Zixiao spotted the Marquis from afar, pulled on the reins, and dismounted. Even in the dead of night, his cold eyes appeared sharp and piercing.

"General Mo, what brings you to my residence at this late hour?" Chu Jingzhi decided to shift from defense to offense, wanting to see what the general was planning.

Mo Zixiao scoffed at him. "Is the Marquis not also leaving his residence at this late hour?"

With that, he walked toward the Marquis. At this moment, Pang Hu, who had been keeping watch there, hurried over. "General."

Mo Zixiao glanced at him. "Mm."

Pang Hu smiled; he knew Mo Zixiao must have secured the means to save their captive from the Emperor.

Mo Zixiao approached the Marquis and drew from his robes the imperial decree, which shone with a golden luster even in the darkness.

Marquis Chu’s clouded eyes widened in shock, rendering him speechless. Mo Zixiao held the decree toward the lantern light hanging from the gate, deliberately thrusting it closer to the Marquis.

"Marquis, I have come in the dead of night to proclaim an imperial decree." He waved a hand at Pang Hu behind him.

Pang Hu stepped forward, cleared his throat, and shouted, "The imperial decree has arrived! Left Prime Minister Qi Wenhui and Qi Huan, come forth to receive the decree!"

The servants at the gate ran into the residence to report the news. Mo Zixiao stood holding the decree, his eyes filled with triumph as he looked at the Marquis.

"The Emperor told me that you, Marquis Chu, traded your own daughter's life to bring your son, Chu Yong, back to the capital. Even the Emperor finds this cold-blooded, cruel, and heartless—but it certainly fits your character."

He had dared to judge Chu Jingzhi’s character as cold-blooded and cruel, effectively trampling the Marquis's dignity into the dirt. Yet, the Marquis could not utter a word of rebuttal; he could only glare at Mo Zixiao with eyes full of hatred.

Before long, Left Prime Minister Qi Wenhui, his wife, and Qi Huan hurried out.

Seeing that everyone had gathered, Mo Zixiao announced, "Qi Wenhui, Qi Huan, receive the decree."

Thump, thump, thump—everyone knelt, the Marquis included. Mo Zixiao opened the scroll and read aloud.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Lanxin, daughter of the Prince of Lin, is virtuous, elegant, and intelligent. She is hereby granted in marriage to Qi Huan, the legitimate son of the Left Prime Minister. Choose an auspicious date for the wedding. Respect this."

Left Prime Minister Qi Wenhui and his wife were astonished, wondering what their nephew was up to. Why would he bestow a disgraced official's daughter upon the Prime Minister's household? However, the imperial decree could not be fake. It was exactly as the Marquis had anticipated: Mo Zixiao must have used the war in the southwest to threaten the Emperor.

Realizing this, Qi Wenhui had no choice but to accept. "I thank the Emperor for his grace."

Mo Zixiao placed the decree into Qi Wenhui's hands with a smirk. "Congratulations, Prime Minister. Princess Lanxin retains her title, and the Emperor has promised that she will continue to receive her princess's stipend. The Prime Minister's residence truly has cause for celebration now."

Qi Wenhui stood up, clutching the decree, and demanded angrily, "Was this decree written under duress by General Mo?"

Mo Zixiao replied with utter disdain, "The Prime Minister should focus on how to keep Princess Lanxin alive once she marries into your home. Otherwise, harming a princess is a crime punishable by the extermination of one's entire clan. Even if the Emperor were inclined to show favoritism, the people of the world would not stand for it."

"If that were to happen, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor would surely not want to be dragged down by the Prime Minister's residence; they would cut ties swiftly. After all, the Emperor's reputation and the stability of the nation are far more important."

At these words, the Prime Minister's wife looked visibly frightened and uneasy. Qi Huan merely offered a cold smirk, looking toward his mother; since he was not the one who had taken lives, he felt at ease.

"Left Prime Minister," the Marquis interjected, "my useless daughter remains in your residence for you to deal with. Since the Emperor's decree makes no mention of Chu Xi or how she should be handled, I have no face to take her back." He gave Mo Zixiao a vicious, triumphant sneer.

Mo Zixiao's heart sank at these words. *Damn it,* he thought, *this is trouble.*