Chapter 4197: Hoisting Oneself by One's Own Petard
The first news they received was: Empress Dowager Chen, who had gone to Mount Tiansheng for fasting and worship, had been carried back.
Yes, carried back.
It was said that this elderly lady began falling ill as soon as she arrived at Mount Tiansheng. After a severe illness, she was utterly emaciated, so thin she seemed like she could be blown away by the wind, appearing truly pitiful and desolate.
Prince Jianping submitted a memorial, tearfully proclaiming his filial piety and insisting on bringing the Empress Dowager back. He argued that the Empress Dowager was old and if she lived in the imperial mausoleum year-round, she would inevitably be tainted by the aura of death, which would naturally be detrimental to her health. Furthermore, Prince Jianping had done his homework, extensively listing countless acts of filial piety by emperors and generals throughout history, earnestly persuading Mo Liusheng to be filial and to conform to the ways of a monarch.
As a result, Mo Liusheng, unable to bear the constant nagging, indeed brought the elderly lady back.
However, as soon as she was brought back, Mo Liusheng directly sent the Empress Dowager to Prince Jianping's residence, instructing Jianping to take good care of her on his behalf.
Prince Jianping, who had secretly received a large sum of money from Empress Dowager Chen and was counting spirit coins with a beaming smile, was instantly bewildered. He had indeed said that filial piety demanded good care of the Empress Dowager; he had even passionately delivered a memorial to His Majesty on the matter.
But... he had never said he would bring Empress Dowager Chen to live in his own residence! He wasn't someone with nothing better to do who enjoyed courting death! What good days could he possibly have by bringing Empress Dowager Chen, this formidable figure, into his home to be enshrined? He never expected to find himself with an "elderly mother" to look after at home!
Isn't His Majesty a total trickster?
As for the second piece of news Qiao Mu and Mo Lian received:
On the second day after they all withdrew from Jialan City, Jialan City was occupied by an unknown force. Now, the entire city was filled with the reeking, decaying zombie puppets. They roamed like guardians of the city, occasionally letting out horrifying roars.
Qiao Mu was silent for a moment before saying, "Heavenly Fate now has an overt stronghold. It will be slightly easier for us to deal with them in the future."
Mo Lian smiled and nodded. "Don't worry about these things."
"We've been rushing around and it's exhausting. Let's rest today; we can talk about anything important tomorrow."
Qiao Mu looked at him and nodded.
"Bathe together?"
Qiao Mu nodded again.
Mo Lian's eyes lit up at her response. He stepped forward, embraced his wife, and said with a smile, "Let's go."
The next day, the Crown Prince was summoned by His Majesty to the Imperial Study early in the morning. The father and son spent the entire morning discussing the situation in Jialan City.
"At present, this is all we can do," Mo Liusheng said, his brows furrowed.
"Previously, Heavenly Fate was in the shadows and we were in the open, always on the defensive." Mo Liusheng raised a hand and patted Mo Lian's shoulder, whispering, "Now that they've come into the open, it will be easier to deal with them in the future."
As the two were speaking, a young eunuch reported, "Your Majesty, Crown Prince. The Crown Princess has sent word to the Crown Prince, saying she has accepted an invitation to Prince Jianping's residence."
Mo Liusheng couldn't help but twitch his lips, thinking: Is Jianping courting death again? He glanced back at his son and indeed saw the latter's handsome face already clouded with gloom. He quickly said, "Uh, why don't you go back and check on her first?"
Mo Lian naturally intended to go back. His face was grim as he walked out, ignoring the Emperor's murmuring cries of "Don't scare your little uncle."