A thunderous boom — like a crack of lightning directly overhead — the force of nature made everyone’s heart sink with it.

The Empress Dowager pressed a hand to her chest and rose to her feet. Meeting the little girl’s gaze — expectant yet fearful — her heart gave a small tremor. Even with her mind long made up, facing those eyes still made the words catch in her throat. Once a person entered this imperial palace, they either went mad or met their death.

“Grandmother.” Sixth Brother stepped forward and steadied the Empress Dowager by her forearm. “As you know, I have recently opened my own residence and am still short of servants. Would Grandmother be willing to gift these people to me?”

The Empress Dowager turned to look at him for a moment, then smiled. Patting his hand, she said, “Very well. I leave them in your care. You are to treat them well.”

“Yes. Your grandson understands.”

The knot in Hua Zhi’s chest dropped heavily back into place. If Sixth Brother had not spoken quickly — if Sixth Brother had not been willing to take responsibility for these children…

Sixth Brother cast a glance at his teacher, then lowered his eyes and escorted his grandmother toward the door. “Father is still waiting for us. We should not delay here any longer.”

Yuxiang hesitated, seeming about to say something, but in the end steeled herself and stepped forward to kneel before the two of them. “This servant asks that Her Ladyship and Your Highness follow me.”

The smile faded gradually from the Empress Dowager’s face. The hand gripping Sixth Brother’s arm tightened. She had thought this was already the limit — but apparently not? Then again, she knew Yuxiang’s nature better than anyone. Whatever she herself had endured, Yuxiang had endured alongside her. A little scene like this was not enough to frighten her.

“Lead the way.”

“Yes.”

After a few steps, the Empress Dowager stopped again. After a brief silence, she said, “Sixth Brother alone will accompany me. The rest of you wait here.”

“Yes.” Hua Zhi acknowledged the instruction and looked down at the little girl’s hesitant expression, unable to resist patting her head. “Don’t worry. It’s over now. From this day forward, you need only serve that gentleman well.”

The little girl tugged at Hua Zhi’s sleeve, gesturing for her to bend down, and whispered in her ear, “Is he a good person? Will he lock us up and take our blood too?”

Hua Zhi’s nose stung. She crouched down and promised, “He won’t. He is a very good person. He just protected you all a little while ago.”

The little girl didn’t understand when she had been protected, but upon hearing such a promise, she relaxed and smiled — a smile that lit up her small face, her large eyes curving warmly. One could already tell that when grown, she would be a person of remarkable bearing. One could only hope that the years ahead would be peaceful and gentle, enough to soothe the suffering she had borne in her youth that she never should have had to bear.

Hua Zhi straightened and looked toward the doorway. For the veteran palace attendant Yuxiang to be so unnerved, for the Empress Dowager to take the matter so gravely that she brought only Sixth Brother — a single imperial prince — one could only imagine how utterly unspeakable what came next would be.

Only Sixth Brother…

Something stirred in Hua Zhi’s heart. This seemed like… a favorable sign. Sixth Brother already held the upper hand, but if he could also gain the Empress Dowager’s support, his standing would become even more legitimate. After all, he had no Imperial Consort mother in the palace to protect him — that had always counted against him.

Not far away, Yuxiang had led the grandmother and grandson only a short distance — still within the same palace complex — before stopping in front of the door to an even more secluded room. She drew a deep breath, then reached forward and pushed open the door.

The smell of blood struck them immediately.

The Empress Dowager gripped Sixth Brother’s arm so tightly that the pain very nearly forced back the involuntary step he almost took in retreat. He steadied himself, shifted his hands to support his grandmother from both sides, and held his ground. Having come this far, there was no way back — and he must not retreat.

His teacher had told him to keep walking forward. Do not look back. Do not retreat. Do not be afraid. She was behind him.

Yes — he was no longer the powerless, isolated, resourceless Sixth Prince he had once been. He could only go forward. His teacher had said that a prince was meant to be someone who sheltered those who followed him, not someone who hid behind them. His teacher had said a prince must have the resolve and courage that his station demanded. His teacher had said that a prince had no way of retreat — and on a narrow road, the brave one wins.

“Grandmother, let me go in on your behalf.”

The coldness in the Empress Dowager’s expression softened slightly. She drew herself up straighter, lifting her chin. “I appreciate your concern, but Grandmother also wishes to open her eyes and see just what new tricks this palace can conjure.”

With that, the Empress Dowager crossed the threshold first. Sixth Brother matched her pace, his steadying hand never leaving her for a moment.

The room was equally bare. At its center, a waist-high platform drew the eye immediately — and on it lay a person. A small person. A child who appeared to be no more than six years old.

The child had been stripped bare and laid in a spread-eagle position, limbs bound to the four corners. The chest was smeared with blood, the entire upper body stained with gore.

The Empress Dowager’s pupils contracted sharply. Her footsteps faltered before she pressed on, stopping only when she reached the edge of the platform.

A piece of flesh had been gouged from the child’s chest. His eyes were wide open, his face contorted in agony, his fingers and toes straining outward to their fullest extent. Just looking at him, one could tell the suffering he had endured.

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes. Her body trembled faintly. After a moment, she raised her hand to close the child’s eyes — but no matter how she tried, they would not stay shut. He stared upward, unable to rest, his grievance crying out to the heavens.

After three attempts, the Empress Dowager said in a hoarse voice, “Sixth Brother — make him a promise. You, the Sixth Prince of Great Qing, swear that you will never let anyone who harms Great Qing’s people go unpunished. Regardless of who they are.”

Yuxiang’s eyes flew wide. Her Ladyship was…

But Sixth Brother did not think too deeply about it. He had never intended to spare Yuepin, who had struck at his teacher and at Gu Yanxi more than once. Carrying a surge of fury, he stepped forward and placed his hand over the child’s eyes, and made his solemn vow: “Rest easy. I will give you justice.”

As though the child had truly heard him — with just that one touch — his eyes closed. Even the twisted expression on his face seemed to ease into something closer to peace.

The Empress Dowager looked at Sixth Brother, his face filled with sorrow, and thought: this is the will of Heaven — Heaven’s decree, which no one can defy.

Years ago, she had thought highly of Consort Zhen and wanted her to become Great Qing’s Empress. It had not come to pass. Sixth Brother did not have the status of a legitimate-born son. But from birth, he had been the one closest to that seat. He was the one whom Heaven itself sheltered for Great Qing.

What did youth matter? She was not yet dead. She could still command the inner palace. Outside, they had General Sun as their military pillar; in the civil sphere, the Hua Family stood at the head of the scholarly officials to protect him. The once most powerless Sixth Brother — his tide had fully turned!

“Find out where all those other children were taken. Gather and properly inter their remains. Once this matter is concluded, invite the masters from the Great Wisdom Temple to come and chant sutras and pray for them.”

Yuxiang bowed in acknowledgment.

“One more thing — was the substance the Emperor has been consuming found?”

“Yes. A remaining quantity was found in Yuepin’s Ruyue Palace. It appears to have been taken not long ago.”

“Good. Very good. Take it to Physician Yu and have him examine what miraculous ingredients have been put into it.”

Boom — boom — boom!

Thunder rolled on and on. The Empress Dowager walked to the doorway and looked out at the dark, pressing sky and the dense curtain of rain. Even Heaven itself was furious.

“Sixth Brother.”

“Yes, Grandmother. Your grandson is here.”

A moment of silence, and then the Empress Dowager shook her head again. “Let us go. Your father has likely run out of patience.”

“Yes.”