Chapter 123 - A Lame Duck (1/2)

After hearing that, Mo Junjiu heaved a sigh of relief and then murmured, “Why is it him?”

Liang Yuanming grabbed the letter with one hand and stroked his beard with the other, muttering to himself, “It appears that His Majesty trusts that man more than what we imagined. He hides it perfectly.”

Mo Junjiu had never taken Mo Junyang to heart and bragged without feeling ashamed, “Why did you say that? Mo Junyang is a useless bastard. If he hadn’t followed the crown prince, he might have been killed by us when we were children. How would he live till now? But in the final analysis, he has no real power. As long as we threaten him, he would be sure to…”

“Idiot!” Liang Yuanming interrupted Mo Junjiu crossly and cursed with disappointment, “What I said just now is useless to you? Why don’t you use your brain?”

Mo Junjiu was scolded and got angry, but this was his respected maternal grandfather and his most reliable counselor, so he had to bear it.

But he didn’t look well and said with displeasure, “I am not wrong. Grandpa, you know I am not good at it. Just tell me what you are thinking about. Don’t keep me in suspense.”

Liang Yuanming goggled out of anger. He was clear that his grandson was obedient to elders but not wise enough. However, Mo Junjiu was a prince and would only be obedient to him. In front of other counselors, he was always puffed up with pride and would never take advice modestly, so it was difficult to cultivate his wisdom in a short time.

So Liang Yuanming didn’t insist but said helplessly, “Didn’t I tell you just now? The person who would be appointed to hear Zhao Ming’s case must be trusted by His Majesty. While in the past few years, Mo Junyang has always been average. Although he follows the crown prince, he made no contributions, and everybody thinks he is good for nothing.”

Mo Junjiu pouted and remained silent, but he said secretly, “He is just a lame duck.”

Liang Yuanming was angry at Mo Junjiu’s attitude and wanted to call him Lame Duck.

“Do you know the more harmless Mo Junyang pretends, the more he hides everything. Zhao Ming’s misfortune might be his plan.”

Liang Yuanming had no evidence, but such things didn’t need evidence. The indistinct instinct could explain everything.

Mo Junjiu denied automatically, “No way!”

“Why not? If this matter has nothing to do with him, why do you think His Majesty would tell him to investigate?”

Mo Junjiu was unable to reply. He wanted to retort and say that Mo Junyang was not so capable, but the old man’s serious eyes told him that this was the truth.

He frowned resentfully and cursed in a low voice, “Mo Junyu must be behind the scene. He pretends to be gentle and harmless at ordinary times, and I really don’t think he cares about the position of the heir to the throne. Now he finally can’t be calm.”

“Indeed. The East Palace is not powerful, and the crown prince is always low-key these years, but now he suddenly takes action…” Liang Yuanming pondered for a short while and then looked at Mo Junjiu out of the blue, with his sharp eyes. “What did you do?”

Mo Junjiu shrank his neck and retorted with guilt, “I did nothing…”

“Fine. I tell you.” He couldn’t bear Liang Yuanming’s deep eyes and had to tell his grandfather that he had secretly sent people to assassinate Mo Junyu several times.

At last, he was still reluctant. “He was lucky enough to escape every time. Otherwise, no matter how partial my father is to Junhao, I would get the position of the crown prince.”

“How dare you!” Liang Yuanming hadn’t thought that Mo Junjiu would do something like that recklessly. He almost spat blood.

Everybody would be irritated. Moreover, no matter how much Mo Junyu hid himself, he was the heir to the throne. After being provoked repeatedly, if he didn’t fight back, he would be a coward. In Zhao Ming’s case, they might have found what Mo Junjiu had done.

Hearing his grandfather’s explanation, Mo Junjiu was startled and said doubtfully, “No way. All people I sent couldn’t come back alive, and everybody has died. I have secretly killed the one in the East Palace. He couldn’t have known it.”

Liang Yuanming was speechless in fury and didn’t want to explain the tricks to Mo Junjiu. He just said, “Anyway, now we need to urgently find from Mo Junyang what Mo Junyu plans to do. If he just wants to give you back tit for tat, we can end it after pushing Zhao Ming away. If he plans to have a life-and-death struggle, perhaps we would have to change our target…”

“Ah? Can’t we protect Zhao Ming?” Mo Junjiu mumbled unwillingly. Till now he still dreamed that he would have the Minister of Revenue on his side.

Liang Yuanming was enraged by him and lost his energy. He warned coldly, “Just stop having an unrealistic dream! Haven’t you found that the evidence Mo Junyang showed was solid, and any information would deprive Zhao Ming of his official position? What’s more, they have kept so many letters, and it can be seen that they kept an eye on him for long. They would never let go of this main target.”

Liang Yuanming didn’t say that Zhao Ming didn’t commit an ordinary crime but treason and if the Mo Country were destroyed, what would the point be even after Mo Junjiu got the position of the heir to the throne?

After taking Mo Xiangbin’s order, King Rui’s heir, who had been remembered with concern for long by the third prince’s followers, went to the prison to see the former Minister of Revenue, Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming had been kept in prison for three days. With his messy hair and untidy face, he lost all his imposing manner.

Mo Junyang was seated outside, with tea and snacks on the table in front of him. He didn’t say anything and just sat silently.

Zhao Ming got impatient first and said in a hoarse voice, “Your Excellency, you are in such a good mood. I am flattered that you came to this filthy place to see me.”

“It’s a nice place here and suitable for you,” Mo Junyang responded casually.

Zhao Ming raged and couldn’t say a word.

He stared at Mo Junyang. “I have never offended you, right? You asked Liang to marry that woman from the Shi Family, and I agreed. Why did you want to kill all my family?”

Mo Junyang blinked his eyes lazily and said indifferently, “You contacted the enemy and betrayed the country. Do we need to give any more reasons to kill you?”

Zhao Ming was unable to reply.