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The emperor was honored as a dragon, while the empress was honored as a phoenix. As the name suggests, the phoenix seal was a symbolic item that only the empress could possess after ascending the throne. It represented the empress's power and status.

Although the ministers outside coveted the position of Queen, without the Phoenix Seal, their ambitions would be in vain.

The actual value of the Phoenix Seal far exceeds the empty title of Queen.

After the previous emperor's death, Chu Yun ascended the throne as the new emperor, and Wei Lin was promoted from empress to empress dowager. She never returned the Phoenix Seal to Chu Yun, and so the seal, symbolizing the empress's power, remained in Wei Lin's hands. This was one of the reasons for rumors that the empress dowager had the power to decide the selection of empress.

Now, Wei Lin actually handed over such an important Phoenix Seal to Mo Heng so easily, and today was the first time she met Mo Heng, which made it difficult for everyone to guess the Queen Mother's thoughts.

Among the servants, some were intentionally arranged by the Empress Dowager, representing spies from various factions within the court. These servants, with their complex backgrounds, already had their own agendas, and their gazes involuntarily turned to Mo Heng.

Mo Heng looked at the seal that Yao Shu held before him, his face slightly startled. He then bowed to the Queen Mother once again to express his gratitude, as if he was just accepting an ordinary gift. "Thank you for your gift, Queen Mother. I have not paid my respects to you since entering the palace. I beg your forgiveness."

The atmosphere between Wei Lin and Mo Heng became harmonious because of the handover of the Phoenix Seal, and even Mo Heng's bow seemed particularly sincere.

Mo Heng sat down at the stone table. After his attendants poured him tea, they left the pavilion and stood guard not far away. Those spies intent on eavesdropping could only regretfully follow him as he left, unable to learn what the Empress Dowager and Mo Guijun were secretly discussing within the pavilion.

"The emperor encountered an assassin a few days ago. Was he frightened?" Wei Lin asked softly.

"No, Your Majesty has had a very good appetite these days. He even had an extra small bowl of wontons this morning." Mo Heng replied calmly.

"When the emperor was young, he was most afraid of learning martial arts from a martial arts master. I thought he would be at a loss when encountering such a situation. I never thought that he would be able to fight against the professionally trained assassin alone. He has really grown up." Wei Lin said with relief.

In response to Wei Lin's praise of Chu Jun, Mo Heng nodded.

Wei Lin took a sip of the Longjing tea in his cup and changed the subject: "The assassin was sent by the Wei family. Wei Ling was careless and left a lot of traces. It took me a while to clean up."

Mo Heng was drinking tea in the cup. Hearing this, he suddenly looked up at Wei Lin. The cup blocked half of his face, so his expression could not be seen clearly. Only the complicated look in his eyes could be seen.

"The emperor should have noticed the Wei family's actions. If nothing unexpected happened, the emperor would have been able to keep the Wei family in his hands. But you see, the assassin was able to appear at the palace banquet in good health. Someone must have secretly pushed the Wei family. Who is secretly blocking the emperor's people? Can Mo Guijun clear up this confusion for me?" Wei Lin put down the teacup and looked at Mo Heng, with a smile on his lips, but no smile in his eyes.

"As the Queen Mother thought, it was my people who deceived your Majesty's people." After hearing this, Mo Heng took another sip of tea, slowly put down the teacup and smiled slightly.

"Oh, you're quite honest." Mo Heng's reaction seemed to surprise Wei Lin, causing her to laugh out loud. Her expression changed, as if it wasn't her who had just put pressure on Mo Heng. "Aren't you afraid that I will execute you on the spot for regicide?"

------

"Don't you think Mo Heng is as stubborn as a bull? I told him not to talk to me, and he really didn't say a word. If he had said a few more words to comfort me, I would have forgiven him long ago."

Chu Jun spent half the afternoon reviewing the memorials, and looking at the ministers' complaints and complaints, he felt a severe headache.

He felt even more depressed when he thought that the person who could help him review the memorials was now in a cold war with him.

Li Yu, as the chief eunuch beside Chu Yun, became the target of Chu Yun's complaints. Li Yu complained bitterly in his heart, but he did not dare to respond to His Majesty's words. After all, His Majesty and Mo Guijun had a deep relationship, which was obvious to all outsiders.

Wouldn't it be asking for trouble to criticize Mo Guijun in front of His Majesty? Li Yu, who had served Chu Jun for many years, still had some sense.

Chu Jun sulked for a while, but couldn't hold on any longer. Not talking to Mo Heng for three days was already his limit. He had to make things clear with Mo Heng today. If Mo Heng still didn't recognize his mistake, he would...

He made Mo Heng the lowest-ranking servant, and made him start from the eighth rank all over again, reducing his number of nights with the emperor from seven times a week to three times a week.

Chu Jun felt relieved thinking about this and turned to ask Li Yu, "Where's Mo Heng? Is he still in Yong'an Palace?"

Li Yu answered cautiously, "Aunt Yaoshu, who is by the Queen Mother's side, went to Yong'an Palace today. Master Mo went to the Imperial Garden with Aunt Yaoshu. The Queen Mother must have wanted to see him."

"What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Li Yu felt bitter. Chu Jun had previously ordered him not to mention Mo Heng in front of him, and now he was blaming him for not informing him in time. Seeing Chu Jun put down his brush and hurried out the door, Li Yu hurried to follow.

------

In the imperial garden, it was the time when wintersweets were in full bloom, and the golden stamens and jade petals looked particularly dazzling against the silver snow.

The crystal snowflakes cover the branches of the wintersweet, contrasting with the tender yellow petals, as if they are the finishing touch of nature.

The air is filled with the faint fragrance of plum blossoms, intertwined with the freshness of snow, making people feel relaxed and happy.

Wei Lin didn't talk to Mo Heng for too long. After about a minute or two, he left with his men. He left so quickly that it seemed as if he had come specifically to deliver the Phoenix Seal to Mo Heng.

Mo Heng held the jade seal in his hand, pondering what Wei Lin had just said to him.

"This Phoenix Seal was handed to you in front of many people. Whether you can protect it depends on your ability. If you can, I will no longer interfere in the matter between the Emperor and you. If you can't, I believe there will be more suitable candidates to protect the Emperor on my behalf."

"Even if the one who did it was the Wei family?"

"Even the Wei family."

“No one will succeed.”

"Wait and see."

······

Mo Heng gripped the Phoenix Seal tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, and thought to himself.

'No one will succeed, because His Majesty said he only wants me. I will not let anyone get close to His Majesty.'

When Chu Jun hurried over, Mo Heng was just walking out of the Imperial Garden. Seeing the breathless Chu Jun, Mo Heng's face suddenly broke into a smile, and he immediately stepped forward to show Chu Jun the Phoenix Seal he had just obtained.

"Let's go back to the palace first. It's too cold here." Chu Jun sighed and said as he pulled Mo Heng's hand to stop him from saying anything.