Starting with a cub, the superpower boss becomes the richest man by lying flat

Chapter 171 Was it all really worth it?

"So what do you plan to do? Do you intend to give up your title?" Chu Qingye asked, seeing the coldness on his face. He knew the man already had a plan.

"Your Majesty misunderstands. This title was left to me by the late Emperor, and I will naturally not give it up. What I am thinking is to separate the family. Qi is not my mother, and she has a son to rely on. According to the laws of our dynasty, I can establish a separate household." Mo Ziyuan said the plan he had already thought of.

Chu Qingye nodded. Without breaking off relations, this was undoubtedly the best solution.

“There is one more thing,” Mo Ziyuan pondered for a moment, “This humble subject is somewhat unsure of what to do and hopes that Your Majesty can offer some guidance.”

"Just say what you have to say. When did you become so long-winded?" Chu Qingye rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Mo Ziyuan smiled and said, "My mother's death was suspicious. The Duke of Dingguo couldn't even wait for me to return from my maternal grandparents' home before hastily burying her. I suspected there was something unknown about it, so I secretly investigated. Unfortunately, those who were around my mother back then have either died or been sent away over the years. I tried my best but only managed to find a lowly maid from back then and got some information from her. Although her knowledge was limited, I still glimpsed some clues and can basically conclude that my mother was killed by the Qi family. As for whether the Duke of Dingguo was involved, I do not know yet."

Hearing that he wouldn't even call him "father" but instead addressed him as "Duke of Dingguo," Chu Qingye felt a pang of sadness. He was two years older than Mo Ziyuan and still remembered the former wife of the Duke of Dingguo's heir; he recalled that she was a very beautiful and gentle woman.

"How do you want to do it?"

"Your Majesty, I don't know either. I just want to ask whether we should continue the investigation."

Chu Qingye looked at him, and Mo Ziyuan looked away uncomfortably.

"What you're really afraid of is that the Duke of Dingguo was involved back then, isn't it?"

Having been guessed by Chu Qingye, Mo Ziyuan pursed his lips and admitted, "That's right. I'm afraid that if I continue to investigate, I might get some terrible results, and I don't know how I'll face that."

"Leave this matter to me to investigate! I will tell you the results later. As for how to decide, that's up to you. No matter what you do, I can guarantee that you will not be affected." Chu Qingye decided to reassure him first.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Mo Ziyuan stood up and gave Chu Qingye a deep bow, a gesture of respect between ruler and subject.

"Alright, enough of that. When we're alone, we'll just act like before. I don't want to be all alone, you know?"

"This……"

"Hmm?" Chu Qingye glared at him fiercely, as if he would pounce on him and bite him to death if he objected.

"...Your humble servant obeys the decree!"

"Alright, go and let your Miss Lin know what reward she wants. Come back and tell me, and I will arrange it for her."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I'll go right away!" Mo Ziyuan had finally resolved a major matter weighing on his mind, and his mood lightened considerably, making him much more lively. "Get lost! Just looking at you annoys me!" Chu Qingye said with a laugh, raising his foot to kick him.

Mo Ziyuan stood up and quickly ran out of the imperial study.

He dashed out of the palace in a flash, only to realize that he had come on horseback. Just as he was about to turn back, he heard a affected voice behind him: "Brother Ziyuan, why didn't you come to see me when you got back?"

Mo Ziyuan turned around, looked indifferently at the woman dressed in a flamboyant manner, then glanced at Fu Jing, who looked embarrassed beside him, and said coldly, "I hope you remember what I said."

After saying that, he didn't even bother looking for a horse and left the palace gate, walking away into the distance.

"Brother Ziyuan, where are you going? Wait for me, I'll go with you!" The affected voice kept piercing his ears, and Mo Ziyuan quickened his pace.

Watching his figure recede into the distance, Fu Jing's younger sister, Fu Qing, stomped her foot in frustration, then turned and pounded on her brother several times, one of which landed on his wound. Fu Jing staggered back two steps, his face turning pale.

Fu Qing was only focused on Mo Ziyuan, who was ignoring her, and didn't care whether her brother was injured or if she had hurt him. Not hearing his reaction, she pouted and scolded, "You are really useless. You have no face at all with Brother Ziyuan, and he has neglected me too. I will tell Father when we get back and make him punish you, hmph!"

Fu Jing touched his wound, a bitter smile appearing on his face. This was the sister he was willing to risk his life to help marry into the Mo family!

Thinking about the accusations and insults he would face when he returned home, as well as the gloating laughter of his younger siblings from other branches of the family, he suddenly wondered if what he had done was worth it. Was such a family really worth him sacrificing his life to help them achieve their wishes?

Unaware that her brother was already lost in confusion, Fu Qing continued to berate him for being useless, saying that if he couldn't help her marry Mo Ziyuan, she would have their father punish him in various ways.

Hearing those vicious and vulgar words, Fu Jing began to waver in his own thoughts for the first time.

The reason he looked down on Lin Xin was simply because he felt her status was unworthy of Mo Ziyuan, the heir of the Duke of Dingguo. However, after their brief time together and the still piercing voices pounding in his ears, he couldn't help but ask himself, "Is my younger sister's upbringing and behavior really better than Lin Xin's, who is just a village girl?"

He could say with certainty that if it had been his sister protecting the young prince as they entered the capital, she would have definitely abandoned the prince and fled for her own life in the face of danger. She might even have betrayed the young prince to save her own life.

Thinking back to his attempt to take advantage of someone's kindness, Fu Jing suddenly felt that he had been incredibly foolish back then. Not just back then, but ever since he obeyed his family's orders and forced his way into Mo Ziyuan's small group, he had been foolish all along.

Over the years, he has handed over all the resources and benefits he had painstakingly obtained from Mo Ziyuan and his group to his family without hesitation, but what did he get in return?

It was the endless accusations from his younger siblings, the insults from his family members who complained that he couldn't meet everyone's needs, and even punishment. Was it all really worth it?
Finally, Fu Jing took a deep breath and said to Fu Qing with utmost seriousness and calmness, "Since you think I'm useless as your brother, then don't come to me with anything in the future, especially things related to Ziyuan. I don't have the ability to meet your demands."

"What did you say?" Fu Qing asked incredulously, looking at her brother who always granted her every request.

"I'm telling you, I'm not going to get involved in your affairs anymore. And one last piece of advice: you'd better not bother Ziyuan anymore. He already has someone he loves and he will never marry you. If you still know that you are a young lady from a noble family, then don't bother him anymore, otherwise it will make things awkward for everyone."