Within the space of half a day, several dozen palace maids and eunuchs inside Jiaofang Palace had been killed.

Blood had seeped into the cracks between the stones. Even after being washed away with water, shocking stains remained. The entire Jiaofang Palace was permeated with a grim, icy stench of blood that chilled the soul.

The remaining palace maids and eunuchs were either imprisoned in the inner prison or confined under guard to their quarters. Each one of them was ashen-faced, their eyes blank and hollow, filled with despair.

Under the Emperor’s towering wrath, Yu Chun and the other several eunuchs had long since been put to death in secret.

In the Emperor’s heart, only having them hacked to pieces with a thousand cuts would vent his fury. Yet this earth-shattering scandal was a tremendous disgrace to the imperial family — he would never allow it to spread. In light of this, there was no choice but to have Yu Chun and the rest disposed of in secret.

The Emperor had not eaten for an entire day. The roaring blaze of his fury, after burning through an entire night and day, had begun to subside somewhat. His expression remained overcast.

Eunuch Ding carefully and quietly offered his counsel: “Your Majesty has not eaten for a full day — continued in this way, it will harm Your Majesty’s health. This servant will immediately instruct the Imperial Kitchen to prepare some easily digestible food to be brought over. Even if Your Majesty has no appetite, please eat a little.”

The Emperor furrowed his brow slightly, and grudgingly gave a sound of assent.

Eunuch Ding breathed a quiet sigh of relief and hurried to pass the order.

Before long, the Imperial Kitchen had sent the food over.

Exquisitely prepared dishes were arranged one by one on the table, their fragrant steam rising in the warmth.

It was only at this moment that the Emperor felt the hollow emptiness in his stomach and realized he was truly hungry. He picked up his chopsticks and brought a bite to his mouth, but found it tasteless as chewing wax — he had to force himself to swallow it.

Eunuch Ding noticed that the Emperor had at last agreed to eat, and felt inwardly relieved. He raised his vigilance several fold and stood to one side, attending carefully upon the Emperor’s meal.

Eunuch Huang of the Office of Imperial Intimate Services was also wearing an expression of deep anxiety, praying silently that the Emperor would not probe too deeply into the affair — for if he did, the investigation would inevitably circle back to him.

For it was he who, the previous evening, had earnestly urged the Emperor to come quietly to Jiaofang Palace. If the Emperor’s anger were to extend to him, his own life would likewise be difficult to preserve.

Imperial Physician Wei had shown him kindness, and he had long since begun serving Wei Yan in secret. When he received the covert message from Imperial Physician Wei, he had acted without hesitation, following the instructions to the letter. He had also prepared himself for exposure — though naturally, if he could preserve his life, all the better.

It was also fortunate that the Emperor was in a poor mood and had no leisure to inquire into such details, while Eunuch Ding and the others were likewise keeping their heads down, too preoccupied to observe Eunuch Huang’s expression.

In a moment like this, no one dared breathe even a syllable about Empress Xu.

A guard stepped in, moved quickly to Eunuch Ding’s side, and murmured a few words in his ear.

Eunuch Ding’s brow furrowed. He hesitated for a moment.

The Emperor’s gaze swept across him, and he asked in a measured tone: “What is the matter?”

Eunuch Ding replied quietly: “Your Majesty, Prince Yan and Princess Yan have arrived at the gates of Jiaofang Palace, saying they wish to call upon Her Majesty the Empress.”

The Emperor heard the mention of Prince Yan and his wife, and his expression immediately cooled: “Go out and speak on Our behalf — tell them that the Empress has taken ill suddenly, is currently resting in her chambers, and is not able to receive visitors.”

He paused, then added coldly: “Pass on Our word: have Prince Yan remain at his residence and rest well these next few days. There is no need to trouble himself over matters in the palace.”

Eunuch Ding acknowledged the order and promptly withdrew.

Prince Yan and Princess Yan stood outside Jiaofang Palace and waited for a short while before Eunuch Ding arrived.

Eunuch Ding was the Emperor’s chief attendant eunuch, personally overseeing the Emperor’s every daily need. Even Prince Yan — arrogant and unrestrained as he was — showed Eunuch Ding particular deference, and immediately stepped forward to receive him: “Eunuch Ding, how does the Empress — my mother — fare at present? This Prince wishes to go in and call upon her right now — does the Emperor permit it?”

Eunuch Ding’s face was full of apologetic smiles: “Your Highness Prince Yan is far too courteous — this servant is most unworthy of such consideration. Her Majesty the Empress took ill suddenly last night and has been confined to her bed. The Emperor, deeply concerned, has come personally to Jiaofang Palace to accompany Her Majesty. The Emperor has also instructed this servant to convey the message — please ask Your Highness to set his mind at ease and return to the residence. There is no need to be anxious on Her Majesty’s behalf.”

Prince Yan’s heart sank.

Eunuch Ding’s words were expressed gently, yet the meaning beneath them was entirely plain.

His imperial father was warning him — do not meddle further in the affairs of Jiaofang Palace.

If he insisted on staying, not only would he be unable to plead for his mother, he would only enrage his imperial father further.

After a brief inward calculation, Prince Yan reached a decision quickly, and said in a low voice: “Thank you, Eunuch Ding. Since my imperial father has given this word, this Prince will return at once. Please convey this Prince’s words to my imperial father — may he take care of his health.”

Eunuch Ding smiled and agreed.

After Prince Yan and Princess Yan had turned and departed, the smile on Eunuch Ding’s face faded.

Under the Emperor’s towering fury, fallout would inevitably rain down upon Prince Yan as well. No one could know how many storms would sweep through the palace, inside and out.

The sky gradually darkened.

Jiaofang Palace remained blazing with lights throughout.

Guards kept the palace sealed against all entry or exit, their long swords hanging at their sides as their vigilant gazes swept the surrounding area. Within Empress Xu’s private chambers, several lamp stands were burning. Their bright, steady glow lit the room with full brilliance.

Empress Xu sat on the bed, her expression blank, not a trace of color in her face.

Empress Xu, who had always taken great care of her appearance, now had her hair in disarray, and the gown she wore was so wrinkled it had lost all semblance of its former shape.

It was the gown from last night. Caught utterly exposed, she had scrambled to put it back on again.

Every single palace maid in the chambers had been confined under guard, leaving no one at her side. Several expressionless guards stood outside the door.

A full night and day had passed.

For her, this had been nothing short of an unexpected, devastating nightmare.

Yu Chun was dead.

He had died right before her eyes, there at the side of the bed.

The Emperor, his face a mask of murderous ferocity and eyes blazing with rage, had personally taken a long sword and run Yu Chun through. She did not know how many times the sword had plunged down — Yu Chun’s screams of agony had come one after another without cease.

The Emperor had given the order: no one was permitted to move Yu Chun’s body.

She had sat there at the side of the bed, watching helplessly as Yu Chun breathed his last. The blood from his body had run free, nearly dyeing the floor red. The thick, metallic stench of blood had saturated every breath she drew.

This had to be hell on earth.

Those who had never lived through it could never know what a thing of absolute terror it truly was.

It was only an hour ago that someone had finally pushed open the chamber door and dragged Yu Chun’s body away. The blood pooled across the floor had also been flushed clean.

Yet the stench of blood had never left.

This had to be a nightmare. None of this was real. She only needed to sleep, and when she woke, everything would be as it had been before.

She repeated these words over and over to herself in her heart, forcing herself to close her eyes.

Yet Yu Chun’s cold, ashen face kept drifting before her, and the sound of his final screams continued to echo in her ears without stopping: “Your Majesty, have mercy — have mercy — it was the Empress who forced this servant — this servant was left with no choice…”

Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes. The cold within her body spread swiftly to every part of her, turning her to ice, and filling her with despair.

At that very moment, the door was shoved open with a crash.