Chapter 13

They all knew clearly that now that they had gotten accurate news, the only thing left to do was—wait.

Wait for the Emperor to send people to ransack the house.

...

In the palace, in the Golden Hall.

Emperor Shunwu flew into a rage.

“What use do I have raising you useless wine sacks and rice bags? The national treasury was actually robbed and even burned down completely. What use are you?”

The civil and military officials all lowered their heads like quails, not saying a word.

They were also puzzled—who exactly would have such great ability to empty the national treasury and even burn it down?

It was just that all these people clearly knew Emperor Shunwu’s temper. At this time, who dared to speak? They would just become his punching bag.

Finally, it was the Eldest Prince, Prince Heng, who carefully reminded,

“Father Emperor, please protect your dragon body. Also, there is still an important matter to handle today. The national treasury robbery can be investigated slowly.”

With this reminder, Emperor Shunwu finally calmed down from his rage.

Prince Heng was right to remind him. He still had an important matter he had not dealt with today.

Emperor Shunwu suppressed the anger in his heart and had the eunuch attendant directly read the decree accusing Mo Jiuye of treason and betraying the country.

Many of the officials had already known about this matter in advance and did not appear too shocked.

After all, the emperor of a country did not want anyone to live better off. Whoever he did not like would have to wash their neck and wait there.

However, those who knew in advance were still only a small number of the emperor’s trusted officials. He Yuanming had also coincidentally heard other people whispering about this news. Only then did he secretly find someone to send a message to the Duke of Protector’s estate.

He knew clearly that even sending advance notice would not change anything. He only hoped that the Mo family could make some preparations early on, so that they would not be penniless and helpless on the road to exile.

It could be said that Emperor Shunwu had really gone all out against the Duke of Protector.

In order to prevent the officials from being too suspicious, he had specifically captured some unimportant officials and accused them of wrongdoing along with the Duke of Protector.

He had even connected their crimes to Mo Jiuye...

By doing this, it benefited Emperor Shunwu in three ways:

First, it elevated the crimes of the Duke of Protector.

Second, it silenced any officials who wanted to plead for Mo Jiuye.

Third, it could add difficulties for Mo Jiuye on the road to exile.

Sure enough, his plan was flawless. With the decree announced, the entire court fell silent. One could only see some officials with dissatisfied looks on Mo Jiuye’s behalf.

Emperor Shunwu did not care about this at all. As long as he could smoothly deal with Mo Jiuye, nothing else mattered.

Emperor Shunwu specifically sent Cao Ren, a general who had been scolded by Mo Jiuye, to ransack the house and deliver the decree.

His goal was to make the Duke of Protector’s circumstances even more miserable.

...

Old Lady Mo waited with the estate’s female family members in the bridal chamber.

Seeing that it was already past noon, there was still no movement.

She looked at Mo Jiuye still lying collapsed on the bed, worried.

“Jiuye, could your judgment and information be mistaken?”

Before Mo Jiuye could reply, a servant rushed in to report,

“Duke, Old Lady, this is bad. The estate is surrounded. General Cao charged in with a group of men.”

Upon hearing this, Old Lady Mo helplessly closed her eyes and murmured, "Alas... I shouldn't have been so wishfully thinking."

Mo Hanyue, who did not know what was happening, hurriedly grabbed Old Lady Mo’s arm.

“Mother, what on earth has happened?”

The eight sisters-in-law also looked nervously at Old Lady Mo, no longer calm.

“Since they have come, we can only face it calmly. Everyone, come with me to go take a look.”

Seeing everyone follow Old Lady Mo out in a flurry, He Zhiran looked at the still unmoving Mo Jiuye.

“Don’t worry, I will help Mother handle things.”

Since Mo Jiuye was currently pretending to be unconscious, he could not go out with everyone.

In Mo Jiuye’s pitch-black eyes was some loneliness and self-mockery.

Still, he sincerely responded to He Zhiran’s words.

“Tell them not to struggle unnecessarily and protect themselves.”

As for everything else, at this point, Mo Jiuye did not even dare hope there was any chance of reversal. He only hoped everyone could embark on the road to exile safe and sound.

“Alright, I promise you that as long as I'm here, not a single person from the Mo family will be lost.”

After personally witnessing the hero and his family wrongfully accused by the foolish emperor, He Zhiran also felt somewhat heavy-hearted at this moment.

However, she still tried her best to relax and deal seriously with today’s events.

He Zhiran jogged a few steps to catch up with Old Lady Mo’s group.

Not long after they went out, a chaotic patter of footsteps sounded.

At the same time, some pleading voices of servants could be heard.

Around thirty some men dressed in official uniforms escorted the gloating Cao Ren at the very front as they walked towards them.

Before the men even reached them, someone shouted at them, “Don’t move! We are here to ransack by decree!”

Old Lady Mo was the first to stop. She pretended to be calm as she looked at the approaching men.

Mo Hanyue was so frightened she clutched her mother’s hand tightly, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Although the eight sisters-in-law had boldly proclaimed last night that they would live as Mo family ghosts and die as Mo family ghosts, when faced with this scene, they still trembled in fear.

Only He Zhiran stood at the back of the group, staring intently at the officials without moving or making a sound.

At the same time, she secretly took out a sharp dagger from her space bracelet, tightly gripping it in her palm.

She was prepared to protect the Mo family’s safety at any moment.

Cao Ren arrogantly approached holding the decree.

“Mo family, prepare to receive the decree!”

As he spoke, Cao Ren’s eyes continuously scanned the surroundings.

“For the Emperor’s decree to arrive but the Duke of Protector does not personally come receive it, this is greatly disrespectful!”

As he finished speaking, he looked to the officials behind him.

“You, go invite the Duke of Protector to come receive the decree.”

Seeing that pompous official about to run to the inner residence, Old Lady Mo quickly stopped him.

“The Duke was summoned by the Emperor last night and given fifty heavy strikes. He is currently still unconscious and I'm afraid cannot come receive the decree.”

Cao Ren knew Mo Jiuye did not appear because of this reason. He had only wanted to deliberately make things difficult for the Mo family here.

“What? You said the Duke was beaten by the Emperor last night?”

He exaggerated his expression, pretending he did not know about this matter, while gloating inwardly.

Old Lady Mo coldly snorted, “General Cao, you are also an important minister of the court. Just deliver the decree. There is no need to kick someone who is down.”

Eldest sister-in-law also boldly spoke up, “Everyone in the capital knows that aside from Ninth Brother, my Mo family are all women. To flaunt your power before a group of women will surely not look good once it spreads.”

“That’s right. Even if we are beneath others, our maternal families all have officials in the court. I fear they may hear of this matter,” Third sister-in-law added.

Cao Ren also knew this was reasonable.

Bullying a group of women, moreover women who had some background, could easily spread.

“Since this is so, Cao will not make things difficult for you. Mo family, receive the decree.”