Three full days and nights had passed — the ninth day since the assassination attempt at the hunting grounds.

Everything had come to light. Ouyang Yibo had conspired with Xijing in an attempt to kill Prince Yao and seize military power — an unforgivable crime. Emperor Tianhui ordered Ouyang Yibo beheaded, his clan exterminated to the ninth degree, though he granted special pardon to Consort Yi, the Second Prince, and the prince’s wife, Ouyang Jingqin.

The three of them had remained kneeling before the Xuanwu Hall ever since Jun Beiyue had dragged Ouyang Yibo inside — three days and three nights of kneeling had truly softened the Emperor’s resolve.

Emperor Tianhui had even transferred command of the western frontier troops to the Second Prince. And yet, even now, the three of them remained kneeling, still begging for an audience with the Emperor.

Jun Beiyue strode forward. Though he’d changed into clean court robes, his face was haggard — he hadn’t rested a moment since returning, tirelessly searching for Han Ziqing, yet still with no news of her whereabouts.

This time, he’d not only mobilized every member of the Glazed Pavilion, but had even dispatched all thirteen of his elite riders. If any rebellion were to break out around the capital now, the capital itself would be in grave danger.

Yet everyone knew this, and no one dared speak of it.

Seeing the Second Prince and the others still kneeling at the entrance, he didn’t so much as spare them a glance, striding straight past. His father had summoned him repeatedly — he had no choice but to spare the time to come.

The moment he entered the Xuanwu Hall, Emperor Tianhui asked with visible concern, “Fourth Son, are your wounds healing well?”

“Thank you for your concern, Father. This son is fine. What matters so urgently that Father needed to summon me?” Jun Beiyue came straight to the point, his mind consumed with finding Ziqing — the longer this dragged on, the greater the danger to her.

But Emperor Tianhui was in no hurry, asking instead, “Has there been any word of Ziqing?”

“Not yet,” Jun Beiyue replied curtly.

Emperor Tianhui sighed, leaning back wearily against the dragon throne, studying Jun Beiyue with visible hesitation.

“Father, if there’s nothing else urgent, this son will take his leave,” Jun Beiyue said again.

“Beiyue… did you see them still kneeling out there when you came in?” Emperor Tianhui said flatly.

“They deserve ten thousand deaths,” Jun Beiyue said, unyielding, his tone icy.

“I know that too, but…” Emperor Tianhui sighed again, gesturing for Jun Beiyue to come closer. No one could hear what he said to him in a low voice, but Jun Beiyue’s expression changed drastically, turning cold as ice.

After a long silence, he stepped back — not even bothering to bow — and said coldly, “This son takes his leave.” With that, he turned and walked away without a backward glance.

The moment he reached the doorway, Consort Yi rushed forward, throwing herself around his legs. “Prince Yao, Prince Yao, please, come to your senses — plead for the Ouyang family! Ouyang Yibo deserves death ten thousand times over, but the rest of the clan is innocent! There are dozens of infants still in swaddling clothes among the Ouyang clan — the children are innocent!”

Ouyang Jingqin threw herself down as well, wailing and begging. “Fourth Prince, please show mercy in your greatness. My father deserves the harshest punishment, but the Ouyang clan — a thousand innocent lives — please, Fourth Prince, show mercy!”

Jun Beiyue stopped in his tracks. His cold, expressionless eyes finally lowered to look at them, his voice frigid as though rising from the depths of hell itself, low and terrifying. “My wife lies gravely wounded, her whereabouts still unknown to this day. What right do you have to speak to me of innocence?”

With that, he kicked both women aside without mercy and strode off. All the way out of the palace gates, he moved with rapid, unstoppable strides, cold as frost — guards and maidservants alike scattered before him, no one daring to stand in his way, no one who didn’t fear him. No one knew what exactly had happened in the imperial study, only that Prince Yao looked as terrifying as a demon risen from the depths of hell.

At the palace gate, Physician Gu spotted him from a distance and immediately sensed something was wrong. He hurried forward. “Your Highness, what did His Majesty want with you?”

Jun Beiyue stopped abruptly, his tall, powerful frame swaying. His gaze fixed straight ahead, seeing nothing at all.

Physician Gu was alarmed. What was happening? Had there been news of the Princess? Had something happened to her?

Physician Gu didn’t dare ask. In all his years following Prince Yao, he had never once seen such a cold, merciless expression on his face. He knew — this was rage.

After a long moment, Jun Beiyue finally spoke, murmuring, “Old Gu, do you know what Father just told me?”

Physician Gu’s heart clenched with alarm. He said quietly, “Your Highness, perhaps we should return home first.”

But Jun Beiyue’s fury suddenly erupted. “He wants me to—”

Before he could finish, Jun Beiyue’s vision suddenly went black, and he fell backward with a resounding thud!

For a moment, everyone froze, unable to process what had just happened — how could this be possible?

Prince Yao had collapsed!

The unbreakable war god of Great Zhou, fallen right at the palace gates!

Physician Gu snapped back to himself and cried out in alarm, “Prince Yao!”

Only then did everyone else react. In an instant, chaos erupted at the palace gate, and within moments the news had spread throughout the entire palace and beyond, shaking the whole court. The capital, only just settled by Jun Beiyue’s return, was thrown once again into turmoil, rumors flying, hearts filled with unease…

That night, Prince Yao’s estate bustled with comings and goings, until finally, late into the night, after Emperor Tianhui had departed, Jun Beiyue suddenly jolted upright from the bed, coughing up a mouthful of black blood — finally regaining consciousness.

Seeing this, Physician Gu was overjoyed, the weight that had hung over him for most of the day finally lifting.

The poison — thankfully — had been cured in time.

His face utterly bloodless, Jun Beiyue frowned. “What happened?”

“My lord, you were poisoned with Begonia venom — you very nearly died right at the palace gate. Thankfully this old servant was present at the time,” Physician Gu explained hurriedly.

“Begonia!”

Jun Beiyue knew this poison. Begonia venom could lie dormant in the body for up to ten days, but once it triggered, without an antidote within half an incense-stick’s time, death was certain.

Who had managed to poison him these past few days?

“My lord, it was this old servant’s carelessness. I examined your wounds again carefully — all the poison came from the wolf fangs,” Physician Gu explained seriously.

“Was Father informed?” Jun Beiyue asked flatly.

“Yes. His Majesty left three physicians stationed outside to keep watch,” Physician Gu answered.

“Did he say anything?” Jun Beiyue asked again.

“His Majesty said he wanted my lord to think things over carefully,” Physician Gu replied, puzzled by what the Emperor could have meant.

Just as he was about to ask further, Jun Beiyue suddenly said, startled, “How many days has it been since that night?”

“Nine—” Before Physician Gu could even finish the word, he too froze in alarm. The Princess of Prince Yao bore numerous wounds from wolf fangs, and Begonia venom was certain to trigger within ten days — which meant…

At that very moment, a guard burst in unannounced, urgent. “My lord, crossbow bolts were discovered in the northern outskirts! Someone witnessed the Western Chu envoy’s party passing through that area — Prince Xiang took the Princess with him!”

“Who witnessed this?” Jun Beiyue demanded sharply.

“A hunter who’d gone into the mountains. He said he saw Prince Xiang forcibly taking a woman in white brocade riding attire, breaking away from the envoy’s party, heading north alone!” the guard reported, presenting the crossbow bolts.

Jun Beiyue glanced at them and immediately gave the order. “Ready the horses!” With that, he rose and strode toward the door.

Physician Gu hurried after him — his lord couldn’t leave now!

The Second Prince and the others were still kneeling before the Xuanwu Hall — if they were left kneeling any longer, who knew what might change!

This was precisely the moment for his lord to strike against the Second Prince!

Just as Jun Beiyue was about to mount his horse, Physician Gu worked up the courage to stop him, urging seriously, “My lord, the bigger picture matters most.”

But Jun Beiyue erupted in fury, pointing sharply toward the direction of the Xuanwu Hall. “Do you have any idea what he said to me today?”