Morning court tomorrow? Gu Chaobei raised an eyebrow, not understanding why the Empress Dowager would say such a thing. Today at morning court he was going to push through the new policies—even if tomorrow came, what of it? Nothing would change.

“I still have important matters to discuss with the ministers. The Empress Dowager may return first, but they must remain,” Gu Chaobei said.

Empress Dowager Wen stroked the gleaming gold finger guards on her hands, glancing at him sidelong. “If the Emperor insists on having his way, this dowager has no recourse. I can hardly lock the Emperor up, can I?”

Gu Chaobei stood his ground, meeting her gaze. “Mother Empress should return and rest early.”

“Very well. In your eyes, an old woman like me should rest and no longer has the strength to manage you.” Empress Dowager Wen laughed lightly, turned with a sweep of her phoenix robe, and walked toward the exit. “Tonight, the Emperor may come to this dowager’s palace to pay respects.”

“Respectfully seeing off Mother Empress.” Gu Chaobei breathed a sigh of relief, watching as the doors of the imperial study opened to reveal the senior ministers standing on either side outside.

Empress Dowager Wen swept a glance over those people, smiled coldly, and left for the Eastern Palace supported by Nanny Fanghua’s hand.

Gu Chaobei summoned all the senior ministers inside to discuss matters, and they talked for three full hours. When it was time for the midday meal, his heart suddenly skipped a beat. Looking at the assembled ministers before him, he said, “The new policies shall be implemented as I have just stated. All my beloved ministers may withdraw. Starting today, increase the guards at your residences. Is that understood?”

A chill ran down Minister Gu’s back. He cupped his hands and was the first to acknowledge the order, with the others following suit.

Setting off for Xiuzhuang Palace, the unease in Gu Chaobei’s heart grew stronger. The words the Empress Dowager spoke when leaving—he always felt something was about to happen.

“Zhuiyun, during the entire morning, was there no news at all from the inner palace?”

Zhuiyun shook his head. “This subordinate was guarding outside the imperial study the whole time and saw no one come.”

His heart settled slightly. If something had happened, at least someone from the inner palace would have come to report, right?

The moment he stepped into Xiuzhuang Palace, a thick stench of blood assaulted his senses.

Gu Chaobei started in alarm, raising his eyes to see a sea of red. The corpses of palace maids and eunuchs lay everywhere. The nearest body was right at the entrance—it looked as though the person had tried to run out but was stabbed from behind.

“Your Majesty!” Zhuiyun gasped in fright and quickly steadied Gu Chaobei.

Xiuzhuang Palace was utterly silent, deathly still. Blood flowed like a river on the ground, soaking through the soil of the flower beds nearby. Gu Chaobei pushed Zhuiyun aside and immediately ran toward the side hall. Pushing open the door, he saw a female corpse hanging from the beam.

Her dignified palace attire was disheveled from struggle. Around her neck was wound a white silk ribbon tied in a death knot—it appeared she had been noosed first, then forcibly hauled upward while still alive.

All strength drained from Gu Chaobei’s body. He nearly collapsed to the ground, staring blankly at the corpse, unable to process what he was seeing.

“If the Emperor still holds the same intention at tomorrow’s court session, this dowager will not stand in your way.”

The Empress Dowager’s words still echoed in his ears. Gu Chaobei opened his mouth to breathe but could not draw in air. In near despair, he let out a long, anguished cry.

“Ahhh—”

Zhuiyun was equally shocked and quickly looked around to see if anyone else remained. Everything in the room had been swept into chaos, as if there had been considerable struggle and fighting. But aside from the corpse hanging from the beam, there was no one else.

Where was Baoshan? Heavy-hearted, Zhuiyun stepped forward and slowly lowered the white silk tied to one side, catching the woman’s body.

“Hiss.” Upon seeing her face, Zhuiyun drew in a sharp breath, even more shocked. “Consort Zhuang!”

It was not Shen Guiyan!

Consort Zhuang’s face had already turned pale blue, completely breathless—she was gone. Hearing Zhuiyun’s cry, Gu Chaobei stumbled through the door, eyes wide as he stared at Consort Zhuang’s corpse.

How could she have died in Yan’er’s side hall? Consort Zhuang knew martial arts, had a lithe figure—such a graceful dancer, how could she be dead?

His heart felt relief—the dead person was not Yan’er. But seeing it was Consort Zhuang, boundless fury surged up within him.

Empress Dowager Wen.

Today he had merely said that having Consort Zhuang was enough, and she directly massacred Xiuzhuang Palace. In this world, she truly did whatever she pleased.

Consort Zhuang had died with her eyes closed, as if she had already resigned herself. What exactly she had endured before death was unknown, but seeing the white silk wound tightly around her neck, Gu Chaobei’s eyes reddened.

White Fox had entered the palace to help him—such a clever woman who said she was willing to serve him in exchange for a life of comfort. She understood what he wanted to do, what he desired, and even knew what his heart favored. Advancing and retreating appropriately, she always helped him conceal things just right.

He had not yet had the chance to reward her, and now she was simply gone.

“Your Majesty.” Luo Wei arrived at Xiuzhuang Palace. Seeing the Emperor’s dazed figure, he said softly, “This subordinate reports on the General’s behalf: Consort Yan is safe.”

Safe—good that she was safe. Gu Chaobei smiled faintly and reached out to gather Consort Zhuang into his arms.

From the moment she awoke this day, Shen Guiyan had felt uneasy in her heart. The Emperor and Empress Dowager had clashed at court—who knew what the outcome would be.

“Baoshan, go guard the front and watch. If there’s any news, come back and tell me.”

“All right.” Baoshan agreed and hurried out, lifting her skirts.

Morning court had only just begun when she rushed back, excitement on her face. “His Majesty and the Empress Dowager quarreled! They’ve moved to the imperial study now!”

Shen Guiyan frowned, head lowered in thought, when Consort Zhuang came to see her.

“I thought you’d also be an early riser.” Consort Zhuang entered with a smile. “There’s something I’d like to ask Consort Yan about.”

Shen Guiyan smiled and offered her a seat. “What is it, Consort Zhuang?”

Consort Zhuang sat beside her, placing the bamboo basket from her arms on the table and pursing her lips. “Isn’t the palace boring? I’ve been learning to make ornamental cords from the others, but I never learned these things growing up, so I’m not very good at it. Could you teach me?”

This was actually something she excelled at. Shen Guiyan nodded and sat down to look at the contents of her bamboo basket. There were several bright yellow cords tied crookedly and askew, with some pearls beside them—she had wanted to string them on but they all looked unattractive, so they’d been abandoned.

“Your Ladyship, watch as this consort makes one.” Shen Guiyan took some thread and demonstrated for her.

Consort Zhuang’s face reddened slightly, somewhat embarrassed. “Actually, I was thinking that since I’ve never been skilled at needlework, it would be nice to make something to give His Majesty. Unfortunately, my hands are clumsy. Why don’t you make one directly, Consort Yan, and I’ll present it to His Majesty on your behalf?”

Shen Guiyan’s eyes brightened slightly. “That would be wonderful.”

Last time the belt went unsent—being able to send an ornamental cord would be good too.

One focused on making, the other on watching. Just as it was nearly finished, Baoshan burst through the door without any regard for propriety.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Guiyan looked up.

Baoshan, face pale, bolted the door and looked at her and Consort Zhuang. “Nanny Fanghua is bringing guards and many eunuchs this way! It looks menacing—they come with ill intent.”

Shen Guiyan frowned. “Has the Empress Dowager returned to the Eastern Palace?”

“It seems so.” Baoshan said. “And she’s in a terrible fury.”

This was bad.

Shen Guiyan’s heart sank, and Consort Zhuang also stood up. Outside, the screams of palace servants had already begun.

Yes, screams—the kind of heart-rending cries of those being deprived of life, sending chills down one’s spine. Soon, someone was pounding on the side hall door.

Consort Zhuang pushed Shen Guiyan toward the window, saying in a low voice, “While they haven’t blocked the windows yet, leave quickly. Beyond here is the back courtyard—you can use the water vats to climb out of Xiuzhuang Palace. Baoshan, go cover your mistress.”

“What about you?” Shen Guiyan frowned.

“I know martial arts—I can hold them off for a while.” Consort Zhuang smiled and helped her climb out the window. “Don’t waste words—go quickly, or if something happens to you, His Majesty won’t spare me.”

Shen Guiyan nodded. Baoshan climbed out with her, and the two barely managed to escape Xiuzhuang Palace. The moment they landed, they heard the sound of the side hall door being smashed open.

Pausing momentarily, Shen Guiyan glanced back, but people had already discovered them climbing over the wall. “Chase them!”

Baoshan grabbed Shen Guiyan and ran.

The guards behind them pursued like hounds, charging after them fiercely. Shen Guiyan pulled Baoshan along as they wove through the flower beds. Women’s smaller, more agile bodies allowed them to run swiftly among the flowers. The men’s larger frames collided with many flowering trees, naturally slowing them down.

This was the fastest Shen Guiyan had run in nearly sixteen years of life.

Reaching the front courtyard, mistress and servant were nearly lost when a hand reached out from a carriage stopped to one side, pulling both Shen Guiyan and Baoshan aboard.

“You…” Shen Guiyan’s eyes filled with terror, but looking back, she saw Yuwen Changqing’s face.

“It’s all right now. Come with me first.” Yuwen Changqing breathed a sigh of relief seeing Shen Guiyan, covering his eyes as he smiled. “I was wondering how I could get inside to rescue you, but I never expected you’d have the ability to escape on your own.”

Shen Guiyan’s entire body went cold. She grabbed Yuwen Changqing. “You knew the Empress Dowager would move against us?”

Yuwen Changqing smiled bitterly. “Your Ladyship, please don’t be angry. This minister didn’t know much in advance. The Empress Dowager’s deployment of troops went through me, which is how I found out. There was no time to inform His Majesty.”

“Consort Zhuang is still in Xiuzhuang Palace.” Shen Guiyan looked at him. “Can you save her?”

Yuwen Changqing closed his eyes. “This minister will first escort Your Ladyship out of the palace. As for the rest, Your Ladyship need not worry.”

The carriage sped swiftly toward the palace gates.

Naturally they went to the Yuwen residence. Shen Guiyan, still in shock, didn’t know who pulled her into the house. When she came to her senses, Han Jiangxue’s worried face was already before her.

“You’re safe now—no need to be afraid.” Han Jiangxue embraced her, saying softly, “First change out of these palace garments, then we’ll wait for news from the palace. Once His Majesty learns of the incident at Xiuzhuang Palace, he’ll come for you.”

Nodding dazedly, she followed along to change clothes and disguise herself. Shen Guiyan looked at the somewhat overcast sky outside, her heart always feeling that something terrible had already happened.

The Emperor carried Consort Zhuang’s corpse all the way into Empress Dowager Wen’s Eastern Palace.

Empress Dowager Wen sat on a soft couch, watching him enter with complete composure. She merely glanced once at Consort Zhuang’s body and laughed lightly. “Emperor, does it hurt?”

More than hurt—this was agony beyond words. Gu Chaobei raised his eyes to look at her and asked, “Why would Mother Empress do such a thing?”

Empress Dowager Wen laughed twice, her answer utterly casual. “This dowager didn’t like her. Things I don’t like—with just a light touch, they’re gone.”