Yue Yao kneeled next to Mo Qingli, lowering her gaze and kowtowing to the Empress. “Paying respect to the Empress, may the Empress be in good health forever and ever and ever!”
“You may rise!”
Yue Yao shot a glance towards the kneeling and indifferent-looking Mo Qingli, slowly rising. “Many thanks, Empress!”
The Empress stared down at Yue Yao, who presented herself as neither servile or overbearing, and gave a slight nod. “You are Yue Yao!”
“Replying to the Empress, this servant is!”
“We ask you, regarding the Eldest Princess’s eye, was it your Princess who inflicted the wound?” As she spoke, the Empress’s voice gradually raised in volume, releasing her domineering royal aura.
“Replying to the Empress, this servant does not know!” Like before, her way of speaking was neither too servile or overbearing.
The Empress stared down at this pair of master and servant. These two’s expressions were identical in their indifference; just what kind of master would produce this kind of servant? In this regard, what Mo Qingli had done excellently. The Empress felt herself being more inclined towards Mo Qingli. Not only was one of Mo Qingyu’s eyes blinded, but, with this kind of att.i.tude, she was someone that would definitely never be allowed to become Crown Princess. Otherwise, wouldn’t it making this kingdom the laughingstock of the two adjacent kingdoms?
Even if Mo Qingyu’s eye was really harmed by Mo Qingli, that wasn’t important anymore!
Thinking of this, the Empress gradually calculated a new plan in her mind.
Mo Qingyu, at hearing Yue Yao’s words, suddenly rose from the floor, pointing at Yue Yao and loudly saying, “Mother Empress, she is lying, they are both lying! Yue Yao is one of that s.l.u.t’s retainers, how can she be telling the truth!”
Mo Qingyu’s temper caused her to ramble incoherently any words that popped up into her mind. However, when she turned around to look at the Empress, her mother’s expression was absolutely terrifying. “Mother—Mother Empress, I—I—I—…”
The Empress raised her hand and slapped it against Mo Qingyu’s face. “You dare, she is your younger sister!”
“Mother, Mother Empress…” Mo Qingyu clutched onto her cheek, looking up at the Empress with an eye filled with tears. The bandages on the blinded eye began to blossom with red as well, either with blood or tears. In Mo Qingyu’s entire memory, the Empress had never raised a hand against her, nor had she ever said a single word of scolding towards her. But now, her most beloved Mother Empress had unexpectedly hit her simply for calling Mo Qingli a “s.l.u.t”! Her heart felt like it had been stabbed through ten thousand times, fresh wounds blossoming inside her.
The Empress wore an expression of loathing as she turned away her eyes, unable to stare at Mo Qingyu’s eye without feeling some degree of revulsion. “Servants!”
“Yes, your Majesty!”
“Escort the Eldest Princess to her residence, and prohibit her from leaving for a month!”
Mo Qingli raised her eyes, watching the scene with indifference. She did not feel any astonishment towards the Empress’s sudden change in personality. Was this the royal family’s so called affection? Hehe… it really was too cruel!
“Li-er, why don’t you rise! Your Mother Empress has really misunderstood you!”
The Empress walked to Mo Qingli’s side, offering her hand to her. Mo Qingli took advantage of the situation and leaned against the Empress as she rose. “This daughter is fine, it’s just…”
Mo Qingli stopped herself before she could finish.
“It’s just what?”
“Even though Eldest Sister has misunderstood and wronged this daughter, this daughter still believes that we must find the a.s.sa.s.sin that stabbed Eldest Sister’s eyes and capture him!”
The Empress carefully sized up Mo Qingli. Mixed in with her indifferent expression was a trace of worry, as if she believed that blood relations were thicker than their feud. Perhaps, there really was someone else involved!
The Empress reached out and grabbed Mo Qingli’s shoulder rea.s.suringly. “Good, good, good, you really are Our daughter. These kind of matters, We will send to the Ministry of Justice. Li-er, you won’t have to worry about anything.”
“Many thanks to Mother Emperor!”
“Next month on the fifteenth, the annual Full Moon festival will be held. During that time the two other kingdoms will bring their princes to come and celebrate, most importantly the Fengchao Dynasty’s. Daughter, you must take advantage of this chance!” The Empress meaningfully told Mo Qingli.
“Many thanks to Mother Emperor for the guidance, this daughter understands!” Mo Qingli pretended to be extremely appreciative.
Only after lengthy investigation afterwards did Mo Qingli find out that in this continent was dominated by three large empires: one matriarchal kingdom, and two male-dominated ones. The Motian Dynasty that she lived in was the only matriarchal dynasty, and possessed the greatest military power out of all three kingdoms.
Furthermore, the two male-dominated kingdoms adjacent to them were the Xiaoyao Dynasty and the Fengchao Dynasty. Because the two male-dominated kingdoms possessed inferior military strength, every year at the Full Moon festival, these two kingdoms would send their most distinguished and outstanding sons to the Motian Dynasty. During the festival, they would become betrothed to the Empress’s daughters, consolidating diplomatic relations and helping prevent war between the kingdoms.
The previous owner of this body had been betrothed with one of the Xiaoyao Dynasty’s sons in a previous festival. It was just that he was one of the unfavored sons in the Xiaoyao Dynasty, and therefore had been betrothed to the lowest-ranked princess, Mo Qingli.
That was why the Empress had put so much emphasis on finding a prince from the Fengchao Dynasty. In the past few years, the Fengchao Dynasty had gradually become more and more powerful. Even though it’s military strength was nowhere near the Motian Dynasty’s, it still surpa.s.sed the Xiaoyao Dynasty’s might by far.
The previous Mo Qingli had just been another one of Mo Qingyu’s lackeys, and had never imagined herself to becoming noticed by the Empress one day. Therefore she had not acted like the other princesses, and had not secured herself a steady following and support.
Which is why, if Mo Qingli was really able to become betrothed to one of the Fengchao Dynasty’s princes, then she would have the Fengchao Dynasty’s support. Then, Mo Qingli would have a much better chance to securing the position of Crown Princess!
The more the Empress scrutinized Mo Qingli the more she found herself liking her. Certainly she didn’t know how Mo Qingli’s transformation had happened so quickly, but nevertheless the change made her feel incredibly joyous inside. Everyday her eyesight became more and more blurry, and everyday her strength became more and more weakened. Seeing the adjacent two dynasties increase their strength more and more everyday made her more vigilant in finding someone to succeed her position on the throne. Even if her new heir was the previously unfavored and low-ranked Mo Qingli, that didn’t matter anymore; as long as she could find someone to protect the Motian Dynasty’s current might, that would be enough.