Although the Empress Dowager was old, she still remembered the woman.
“Consort Li?”
The so-called Consort Li was Mo Li’s title.
Mo Li walked as though she was being boosted by the wind. Her movements were graceful and nimble. She slowly walked to the Empress Dowager before she bowed and said, “Greetings, Empress Dowager.”
The Empress Dowager said, “What brings you here, Consort Li? Shouldn’t you be in the palace?”
Mo Li smiled faintly. She turned around, raised a finger, and said, “To capture someone.”
“Capture someone?”.
The Fourth Prince who was sitting at the side chuckled and said, “Who’s there to be captured here? Brother, you’re making a mountain out of a molehill. Besides, if you’re intending to capture someone, brother, why is Consort Li needed?”
The conversation between the two was suddenly charged with tension.
The Second Prince, Liu Huan, stood up and said, “Fourth brother, let’s not rush things… Although Consort Li is a woman, she’s smarter than most. Let her finish.”
With the Second Prince backing her, Mo Li finished her unfinished sentence. She pointed at the man in the exotic clothes and said, “To capture him.”
Mingshi Yin was stunned. ‘I’ve been exposed? How’s that possible?’ He hastily said with his peculiar accent, “You’ve made a mistake! It’s a mistake…”
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Two men in armor appeared on the rooftops near the Obedient Villa.
Zhao Yue looked up and frowned.
Mo Li bowed at Liu Huan and said, “I didn’t let you down, Your Highness.” “Very good.” “This man is the Evil Sky Pavilion’s fourth disciple, Mingshi Yin,” Mo Li announced.
Everyone began to whisper among themselves.
The troupe members who had just gotten off the stage looked frightened as well. This peculiarly dressed man did not resemble the rumored villain at all. Liu Bing said, puzzled, “Mingshi Yin?” “That’s right.”
“Grandmother, the Evil Sky Pavilion has always been at odds with the Imperial city. Many years ago, the Evil Sky Pavilion’s Old Villain Ji stole the Imperial token from the palace. The Princess from the western regions who was betrothed to our nation was also kidnapped by the Evil Sky Pavilion’s Yu Shangrong. The seventh disciple, Si Wuya, sowed dissension and caused a conflict between Great Yan and Rongbei. Ten of thousands of cultivators lost their lives because of that! How can we not execute people who have committed such grave sins?” Mo Li said.
The Empress Dowager looked at Mo Li and said, “Is this the great show you want to show me?”
Mo Li replied, “Grandmother… As a consort, it’s only natural for me to share His Highness’ burdens.”
“What do you intend to do?” the Empress Dowager asked. “Behead him,” Mo Li said coldly.
The others were taken aback. They looked at Mo Li incredulously.
The people from the palace merely knew that the woman by the Second Prince’s side was exceptional. They did not expect her to be so decisive and ruthless.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Mingshi Yin stomped his foot on the ground. Like a fired arrow, he shot toward Obedient Villa. “You caught me this time around. I’ll be back!”
Whizz!
One of the elites who were standing on the rooftops flew toward Mingshi Yin. Mingshi Yin smiled. “Five-leaf?” His Separation Hook gleamed. The elite from the palace sneered and said, “Five-leaf is enough to take you down!”
An avatar appeared! The 60-foot avatar attracted everyone’s attention.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The two opponents began to engage in a fight.
Initially, Mingshi Yin intended to flee. However, he was tied down now.
Mo Li nodded in satisfaction. “Princess Zhao Yue, what do you think?” Zhao Yue said, “Are you talking to me?” “You’re the Evil Sky Pavilion’s fifth disciple, princess. Since I’m going to capture your senior brother, I hope you’ll forgive me,” Mo Li said with a slight bow.
The Empress Dowager frowned. She had never troubled herself with secular affairs and rarely paid attention to the cultivation world as well. She would not have cultivated if she did not wish to live longer. She disliked fights and killings. Hence, she learned cultivation methods that focused on nurturing a person’s character and were helpful in healing. After the long-lived Emperor passed away, she had given up on those cultivation methods. However, she did not expect that she would be able to meet Princess Yun Zhao’s orphan in this lifetime. How could she allow anyone to harm Zhao Yue?
“Consort Li, you’re being audacious!” the Empress Dowager raised her voice.
Mo Li kneeled immediately. “Grandmother, I don’t know what you mean.”
“Zhao Yue is a member of the Imperial family, the orphan of Princess Yun Zhao… Now that she’s returned to the Imperial family, she’s my granddaughter. Are you trying to go against me?” the Empress Dowager said in a low voice.
The Second Prince, Liu Huan, frowned. He had never seen the Empress Dowager show any interest in the struggles within the palace. Also, she rarely cared about anything, especially after the long-lived Emperor left. He did not expect the Empress Dowager to stand up for Zhao Yue. ‘This is going to complicate things.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Above the Obedient Villa, Mingshi Yin and the Five-leaf elite were still locked in battle.
Mingshi Yin fought as he looked for a way to flee.
The Fourth Prince, Liu Bing, said, “Grandmother’s right. Zhao Yue is our little sister after all.”
Liu Huan said with a scoff, “Even the child of heaven bears the same sin as the common folk once a crime is committed.”
Zing!
Zing!
The soldiers at the side drew their swords!
“I’d like to see who dares to touch Zhao Yue?!” The Empress Dowager rose to her feet in anger as she stared at everyone coldly.
The Fourth Prince, Liu Bing, said, “Brother, grandmother came here to rest in peace. If her condition worsens because you agitated her, it’d be difficult for you to shake off the responsibility.”
Liu Huan bowed and said, “Grandmother… Please consider the bigger picture! Li
Empress Dowager inside now?”
Li Yunzhao did not find himself in his current position without a knack to read the mood. He swiftly said, “I only take orders from the Empress Dowager!”
The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy.
Everyone had their own plans and agendas. The Empress Dowager had no intention of getting too involved in this. All she wanted was to protect Zhao Yue.
Mo Li said, “Grandmother, please consider the bigger picture… The Evil Sky Pavilion must be annihilated! You’ve kept yourself away from the affairs of the world, grandmother, so you don’t know what the Evil Sky Pavilion did… That’s right, you can ask these performers.”
The Empress Dowager shook her head. “Little Li.”
Li Yunzhao turned to face the Empress Dowager. “Strike her mouth.”
“Mhm.”
Whoosh!
Li Yunzhao moved at lightning speed and appeared next to Mo Li. He drew up a blast of energy with just a swing of his arm.
Smack!
Li Yunzhao’s palm landed on Mo Li’s mouth.
Mo Li did not dodge. She took the hit squarely. Blood trickled from the edge of her lips. Li Yunzhao returned to his original position in the next second.
Liu Huan frowned. However, he did not dare to voice out his frustrations. Who dared to have an opinion if the Empress Dowager decided that someone should be hit?
The Empress Dowager asked, “Consort Li, do you have anything else to say?”
Mo Li curtsied and said, “I’ve made a mistake. I’ll visit Sister Zhao Yue one of these days and offer my apologies.” A hint of killing intent flashed in her eyes briefly before it disappeared. Then, she pointed at Mingshi Yin who was fighting in the air and continued to say, “Grandmother, are you going to protect him as well?”
The Empress Dowager looked up at the two figures who were locked in battle.
Zhao Yue wanted to say speak up, however, she was interrupted by Mingshi Yin’s laughter. Soon after, he said, “This isn’t the Divine Capital, and yet, you’re thinking about keeping me here? Wishful thinking!”
Whoosh!
A Five-leaf avatar appeared out of thin air.
Bam!
Mingshi Yin raised his arms. He fell from the impact of the heavy blow.
Boom!
A building collapsed. Clouds of dust stirred up. Mo Li smiled and said, “You’re not getting away.”
The Five-leaf Avatar continued to descend as the cultivator spoke loudly, “This is all the Evil Sky Pavilion’s Mingshi Yin has got. Surrender yourself!”
An energy blade appeared in the avatar’s hand as it dove down.
In the other courtyard, the commotion could be heard as well.
“Let’s go have a look.” Jiang Aijian could not wait any longer.
When they exited the courtyard, they saw the palace elite diving down to attack! His hands were wrapped around a sword covered in a thick layer of energy.
“An assassin?” Jiang Aijian wondered aloud.
